Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates ‘Popular Astra-prayogas of Kurkshetra War’ of the study on the Nitiprakasika by Vaisampayana which deals primarily with with Dhanurveda, i.e., the science of war, weapons and military strategies of ancient Indian society. It further contains details on Niti-shastra, i.e., the science of politics and state administration but most verses of the Nitiprakashika deal with the classification and description of different varieties of weapons, based on the four groups of Mukta, Amukta, Muktamukta and Mantramukta.
Popular Astra-prayogas of Kurkṣetra War
(i) Certain astras were used only once:
(a) Vaiṣnavāstra, the infallible was extremely lethal. Knowing its power, Kṛṣṇa took it on himself, when it was invoked by Bhagadatta.
(b) Likewise, Nārāyaṇāstra would grow in power when physically or mentally resisted. Only complete surrender could save the enemy. Knowing this, everyone in Pāṇḍava’s side surrendered to this astra when released by Aśvattāma. Bhīma became the sole oppponent and the weapon descended on him with full force. Only by the intervention of Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna was he saved.
(c) Before using Tvāṣṭrāstra or Vāyavyāstra, Arjuna tried out ordinary weapons on the Saṃsaptakas. The astra which he used to kill Jayadratha was preserved for a long time.
(d) The gadā obtained by Śrutāyudha had the capacity to kill the prayogakartā if it was invoked on somebody not involved in fighting. Since he used it on Kṛṣṇa, it ultimately destroyed Śrutāyudha himself.
(e) Similarly Mānavāstra upon second application would kill the invoker. Arjuna knew this. He used Mānavāstra to pierce Duryodhana’s borrowed armour. When it was countered by the sarvāstraghātin he had to abstain from re-use of mānavāstra.
(f) Karṇa used the śakti, which he was preserving to kill Arjuna on Ghaṭotkaca when there was no other means to curb him. Also,he could use Nāgāstra only once on Arjuna, in keeping with his promise.
(ii) Others:
(a) Aśvattāma’s effulgent Āgneyāstra brought with it the fall of heavenly objects like comets. It gave rise to Śaravṛṣṭi that could burn an entire akṣauhiṇi. Yet, Arjuna neutralised its effect with his Brahmāstra.
(b) Ghaṭotkaca’s Vajrāstra burnt up horses, chariot along with the charioteer.
(c) Droṇa’s Brahmāstra terrified the bhūtas, created tempests, earthquakes and marine uproar.Vyāsa mentions about the destructive power of the Brahmāstra. He says that if countered, it could bring about drought for twelve long years.
(d) Arjuna’s Jyotiṣa and Āditya weapons destroyed darkness and the illusion created by Śakuni’s māyā.