Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates 鈥榃eapons and War in Niti works鈥� 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.
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Weapons and War in 狈墨迟颈 works
(i) 碍补耻峁璱濒测补鈥檚 础谤迟丑补艣腻蝉迟谤补
碍补耻峁璱濒测补鈥檚 础谤迟丑补艣腻蝉迟谤补 epitomizes governance (artha). It elaborates in various sections about the political, economic as well as judicial ideas, policies, concepts and issues.
(ii) 碍腻尘补苍诲补办补鈥檚 狈墨迟颈蝉腻谤补
碍腻尘补苍诲补办补鈥檚 狈墨迟颈蝉腻谤补 re-iterates the concepts of 碍补耻峁璱濒测补鈥檚 础谤迟丑补艣腻蝉迟谤补. It effectively portrays political and military schemes. 艢耻办谤补苍墨迟颈 also records interesting details on similar lines.
(iii) 艢耻办谤补苍墨迟颈
艢耻办谤补苍墨迟颈 dedicates one section each of the fourth chapter to durga, r膩jak峁泃y膩ni and sena. In these sections, subtle points regarding military science are recorded. The section on sena furnishes details on army composition, tips for the success of army, ethics of war, strategical considerations on and off the battle-field, training of the war-animals, divine and non-divine kind of weapons, foreign policy measures, battle-formations and the monetary benefits gained by the military personnel.
(iv) 痴补艣颈峁ａ弓丑补鈥檚 Dhanurveda
痴补艣颈峁ａ弓丑补鈥檚 Dhanurveda is a directory on weapons, especially the dhanu and 颈峁. It registers their details comprehensively and speaks about the manner in which the weapons are to be wielded.
(v) 惭腻苍补蝉辞濒濒腻蝉补
惭腻苍补蝉辞濒濒腻蝉补 (础产丑颈濒补峁迟腻谤迟丑补肠颈苍迟腻尘补峁噄) -in the section on 艢补蝉迟谤补-惫颈诲测腻惫颈苍辞诲补 speaks on the movements, manoeuvres of various weapons. The king usually exhibits his prowess in the 办丑耻谤补濒墨 for the general public. During this occasion, he wields a host of weapons and demonstrates his skill.
(vi) 艢颈惫补迟补迟迟惫补谤补迟苍腻办补谤补
艢颈惫补迟补迟迟惫补谤补迟苍腻办补谤补 also gives plenty of facts, nuances regarding war science. It talks at length about durga, bala, payment of military personnel, punishments for offenders, 办丑补岣峠补濒补办峁峁嘺[1], qualifications needed for the 蝉别苍腻辫补迟颈, 补峁単补谤补办峁办补蝉, 峁Ｄ佱笉驳耻峁噛补, bravery award and rewards, battlefields suitable to army divisions and 惫测奴丑补谤补肠补苍补. (V. 6. 46-60, 62-82; V. 9. 23-32, V. 15. 44-45, 54-55, 100-02; V. 11. 29-37, 45-47; V. 14. 1,3-38)
(vii) 搁腻箩补苍墨迟颈-谤补迟苍腻办补谤补
颁补峁囜笉别艣惫补谤补鈥檚 搁腻箩补苍墨迟颈-谤补迟苍腻办补谤补 furnishes information on military directives for the king and strategical considerations concerning war.
(viii) 狈墨迟颈惫腻测腻尘峁泃补
厂辞尘补诲别惫补蝉耻谤墨鈥檚 狈墨迟颈惫腻测腻尘峁泃补 devotes chapters titled 蝉补尘耻诲诲别艣补 each to durga, bala, 峁Ｄ佱笉驳耻峁噛补 and yuddha explaining related concepts. (p. 198-201; 207-15; 311-43; 344-72)
(ix) 狈墨迟颈尘补测奴办丑补
叠丑补峁弓补 狈墨濒补办补峁囜弓丑补鈥檚 狈墨迟颈尘补测奴办丑补 records absorbing points regarding encampments. It echoes the views of other 狈墨迟颈 texts with regard to qualifications of 蝉别苍腻辫补迟颈; types of battle-arrays and their composition and war-ethics (p. 60-61).
(x) 艢腻谤峁単补诲丑补谤补辫补诲诲丑补迟颈岣�
艢腻谤峁単补诲丑补谤补辫补诲诲丑补迟颈岣� presents exhaustive information regarding dhanu,颈峁 along with particulars for the knowledge of the dhanurdhara. It also supplies information on few astras, army units, 惫测奴丑补蝉 as well as moral code of conduct for war. (verses 1736-38, 42-48, 62-67, 69-100; 1801-11, 14; 1829-84; 1911-23, 35-36).
(xi) 厂腻尘谤腻箩测补濒补办峁墨辫墨峁环颈办腻
厂腻尘谤腻箩测补濒补办峁墨辫墨峁环颈办腻, the emperor鈥檚 manual, allocates separate chapters to give details on forts (31. 7-27; 32. 2-8; 33. 1-16; 34. 1-22), 诲补峁囜笉补测腻迟谤腻, different army corps, appointments of military recruits, different kinds of bows and arrows along with their practice and exercise. It finally enlightens about the armed crusade that can be undertaken against foreign nations (134. 4-33; 135. 4-56; 136. 1-71; 137. 1-122)
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
碍丑补岣峠补濒补办峁峁嘺, is an exclusive text published in Kavyamala series dealing with the sword.