BY THE ANCIENT HINDUS. 



177 



spells. 14 This classification is more theoretical than practical, 

 as it is not strictly followed. The gods can, moreover through 

 the application of spells, turn all weapons into projectiles. 15 



The Agnipurana arranges the weapons in five classes, into 

 1, those thrown by machines, yantramukta; 2, those thrown by 

 the hand, pdnimuMa ; 3, those thrown and drawn back, mukta- 

 sandhdrita ; 4, those which are not thrown, aniukta ; and, 5, the 

 weapons which the body provides for the personal struggle, 

 the bdhuyuddha. 16 Other classifications besides these exist, 

 but the difference between them is not essential. 



Twelve projectiles and projectile weapons constitute the 

 division of the muhta or thrown weapons. 



1. The dhanu (bow) is personified as a being which has a broad 

 neck, a small face, a slender waist, and a strong back. He is 

 four cubits in height, and bent in three places. He has a 

 long tongue, and his mouth has terrible tusks ; his color is 

 that of blood, and he makes always a gurgling noise. He is 

 covered with garlands of entrails, and licks continually with 

 his tongue the two corners of his mouth. 17 



According to the rules laid down in the Dhanurveda the 

 bow should be bent by the left hand, the bowstring should 

 be taken by the right hand, and the arrow be placed on the 



14 See Ibidem, II, 11-13. 



11. Muktam caiva hyamuktam ca muktamuktam atah par am 

 mantramuktam ca catvari dbanurvedapadani vai. 



12. Muktam banadi vijneyam kbadgadikam amuktakam 

 sopasambaram astram tu muktamuktam udabaret. 



13. Upasamhararahitam mantram uktam ihocyate 

 caturbhirebhih padaistu dhanurvedah prakasate. 



15 See Ibidem I. 47 b, note 11. 



. 16 See Agnipurana (Dhanurveda) 148, 2. 



Yantramuktam panimuktam muktasandharitam tatha 

 amuktam bahuyuddham ca pancadha tat prakirttitam. 

 17 See Nltiprakasika, II, 17 ; and IV. 8, 9. 



8. Prtbugrlvam suksmasirab. tanumadhyam suprstbavat 

 catuskiskupramsudebam trinatam dirghajibvakam. 



9. Damstrakaralavadanam raktabbam gbargharasvanam 

 antramalapariksiptam lelibanam ca srkvanl. 



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