Shishupala-vadha (Study)
by Shila Chakraborty | 2018 | 112,267 words
This page relates ‘Asamhata-vyuha (Dispersed Array)’ of the study on the Shishupala-vadha (in English) in the light of Manusamhita (law and religious duties) and Arthashastra (science of politics and warfare). The Shishupalavadha is an epic poem (Mahakavya) written by Magha in the 7th century AD. It consists of 1800 Sanskrit verses spread over twenty chapters and narrates the details of the king of the Chedis.
Asaṃhata-vyūha (Dispersed Array)
“pakṣakakṣorasyānām asaṃhatādasaṃhataḥ” (10.6.34)[1]
“Because of the disjoined nature of the wings flanks and centre it is the diffuse array”.[2]
The meaning of asaṃhata array (dispersed array) is loose. The wings flanks and front part are formed aloof from each other in it. These parts approach each other detouchedly and its previous location gets meaningless at the time of formation of array.
The categories of this asṃhata array are:
- vajra (thunder bolt),
- godhā (lizard),
- udyānaka (hearth),
- kākapadī (crows feet),
- ardhacandrikā (half moon),
- karkaṭaśṛngī (crab horned).
Two wings, two flanks and centre, the five divisions are so arranged that they present the appearance of a thunder and the five divisions are so arranged that they present the appearance of the animal as like as lizard.
Vajra (thuner bolt) or godha (lizard)—
According to Kauṭilya—
“sa pañcānīkānāmākṛti sthapanād vajro godhā vā | (10.6.35)[3]
By the formation of the figure with five divisions, it is the “thunder-bolt’ or the lizard.”[4]
According to kauṭilya—
“caturṇāmudyānakaḥ kākapadī vā | trayāṇāmardhacandrikaḥ karkaṭakaśṛṅgī vā ” | ityasaṃhatavyūhāḥ || (10.6.36-37)[5]
“With four (divisions,) it is the ‘hearth’ or the crow’s feet. With three, it is the half moon or the crab horned. These are the diffuse arrays or dispersed array.”[6]
Uddhānakaḥ is from Kāmandaka as suggested by Meyer for udynakaḥ |
“The former is a fire plac or hearth; the latter suggesting a park is not likely when some ākṛti is expected. Whereas the Uddhānaka would appear to be a square, the kākapadī would appear to be diamond shaped with the tip in front. ardhacandrikā i.e. with the centre moved forward of the two side divisions. This seems meant, since in the karkaṭaśṛgī the sides would obviously be moved forward, not the centre’.[7]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
ibid., part-I, p. 243.
[2]:
ibid., part-II, p. 452.
[3]:
ibid., part-I, p. 243.
[4]:
ibid., part-II, p. 452.
[5]:
ibid., part-I, p. 243.
[6]:
ibid., part–II, p. 452.
[7]:
ibid., part-II, p. 452 (foot note).