Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates 鈥楽arga III: Khadga-utpatti-kathana (40 Verses)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.
Sarga III: 碍丑补岣峠补-utpatti-kathana (40 Verses)
verses 1-10: 碍丑补岣峠补 pra艣a峁僺膩:
笔峁泃丑耻 proceeded to ask 叠谤补丑尘腻 about the origin of 碍丑补岣峠补. He asked the creator about the reason and time for creation of sword as well as its parampara.
叠谤补丑尘腻 begins with the extolation of 碍丑补岣峠补鈥揺ven when one鈥榮 bow is broken and horses are dead or incapacitated, the 碍丑补岣峠补 will save the warrior in the battlefield. A 碍丑补岣峠补dhara is capable of facing warriors who possess weapons like 骋补诲腻 or 艢补办迟颈. It is the 鈥�weapon of weapons鈥� (腻测耻诲丑补产丑测辞 惫补谤补岣� 产丑补诲驳补岣�) and was created for subduing the asuras who transgress their limits.
verses 11-20: Emergence of 碍丑补岣峠补puru峁
The 碍丑补岣峠补 was created in the Himalayan regions, well known for its vegetative bounty and wealth of metals. The creator himself performed penance for about thousand years after which certain portents appeared foretelling the occurrence of a miracle. A brilliant 碍丑补岣峠补puru峁 who had a frightening form and fearsome roar emerged.
A list of portents foretold the arrival of such a strange being鈥搕he Earth trembled; ocean agitated; meteors showered and huge branches fell off trees. This 碍丑补岣峠补puru峁 then shed his frightening form and got transformed into the 碍丑补岣峠补.
verses 21-8: 艢颈惫补鈥檚 use of 碍丑补岣峠补 in destroying demons:
叠谤补丑尘腻 then placed the 碍丑补岣峠补 in the hands of Lord 艢颈惫补, who tested the weapon by moving it in different ways; he used it to annihilate the demons by wielding it in thirty-two different movements, moving his feet accordingly swiftly; he vanquished the demons in the battle.
verses 29-35: 碍丑补岣峠补鈥揑迟蝉 笔补谤补尘辫补谤腻:
Pleased with the possible uses of the 办丑补岣峠补, Lord 艢颈惫补 then, in turn, passed it on to 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 who gave it to 惭补谤墨肠墨. From 惭补谤墨肠墨, the sages, 痴腻蝉补惫补, 尝辞办补辫腻濒补 and Manu obtained the sword in sequence and used it to uphold dharma. Saying so about the lineage of the sword, Brahma handed over the weapon to 笔峁泃丑耻, to take care of the subjects just like his progeny
verses 36-40: Conclusion of the third sarga:
叠谤补丑尘腻 claims supremacy for the 碍丑补岣峠补 -as the foremost amongst the 艣补蝉迟谤补蝉. Its 苍补办峁迟谤补 is 办峁泃迟颈办补, gotra is 谤辞丑颈峁嚹� and 诲别惫补迟腻 is rudra. The warriors upon worship of 碍丑补岣峠补 become victorious and famous.
Weapon: 碍贬础岣孏础{GL_NOTE::} [III. (24- 8)]
Measurements:
50 angulas ln.
4 补峁単耻濒补蝉 wide
BRIGHT, SHARP-EDGED, UPRIGHT
Physical Characteristics
1. 叠丑谤腻苍迟补,
2. Udbhr膩nta,
3. 膧惫颈诲诲丑补,
4. 膧辫濒耻迟补,
5. Vipluta,
6. 厂峁泃补,
7. Samy膩nta,
8. Samud墨r峁嘺,
9. Nigraha,
10. Pragraha,
11. P膩d膩vakar峁,
12. 厂补苍诲丑腻苍补,
13. 艢iroparibhrama,
14. Bhujaparibhrama,
15. 笔腻艣补,
16. 笔腻诲补,
Movements:
17. Vibandha,
18. 叠丑奴尘颈,
19. Udbhr膩ma峁嘺ka,
20. Gata,
21. Praty膩ga,
22. 膧办峁辫补,
23. 笔腻迟补苍补,
24. Utth膩naka,
25. Pluta,
26. 尝腻驳丑补惫补,
27. Sau峁ａ弓ava,
28. 艢辞产丑腻,
29. Sthiratva,
30. D峁涐笉hamu峁ａ弓it膩,
31. Tiryakpracara峁嘺,
32. 弄rdhvapracara峁嘺,
罢补迟迟惫补惫颈惫峁泃颈 on verses 24-8:
Succinct explanation of the thirty two movements of 碍丑补岣峠补 is provided.