182 



ON THE WEAPONS USED 



its body, and looks frightful. Two movements are required 

 for using it. 29 



12. The musundi (octagonheaded club) has broad knots, a 

 broad body, and a good handle for the fist. It is three arms 

 long, and has the fearful color of a cobra. Its two principal 

 movements are the jerking and the whirling. 30 



B. The class of the amukta weapons includes twenty 

 different species. 



1. The vajra (thunderbolt) was, according to tradition, made 

 out of the backbone of the sage Dadhici. It keeps its 

 mythical character throughout. Nothing can withstand its 

 splendour, and it was originally made for the destruction of 

 the demon Vrtra. It shines brightly with the light of a 

 krore of suns, and it resembles the fire which shone at the 

 dissolution of the world. Its fangs extend to a yojana (10 

 miles) in length, and its tongue too is most horrible. It 

 resembles the night of destruction at the end of the world, and 

 is covered with 100 knots. Its breadth amounts to five 

 yojanas and its length to 10 yojanas. Its periphery is 

 covered with sharp points ; in color it resembles lightning ; 

 a broad strong handle is fixed to it. Its movements are 

 four in number. 31 



29 See Ibidem, II. 17 ; IV. 49, 50. 



49. Dantakantakanama tu lohakantakadehavan 

 agre prthussuksmapucchascangarasanibhakr tih . 



50. Babunnatassutsarusca dandakayo'gralocanah 

 patanam granthanam ceti dve gatl dantakantake. 



30 &e Ibidem II. 18; IV. 51, 52. 



51. Musundi tu brhadgranthirbrhaddehassusatsaruh 

 bahutrayasamutsedhah. krsnasarpogravarnavan . 



52. Yapanam ghurnanam ceti dve gatl tat samasrite. 

 Another form of the word is brsundi. 



31 See Ibidem, II. 19 ; V. 1-6. 



1. Amuktaprathamam vajram vaksyami tava tacchrnu 

 aprameyabalam vajram kamarupadharam ca tat. 



2. Dadhiciprsthasthijanyam sarvatejah prasamakam 

 vrtrasuranipatartham daivatej opavrmhitam. 



