Vasistha's Dhanurveda Samhita

Language: Sanskrit Text With English Translation
Pages: 88 (18 B/W Illustrations)





Foreword

The present treatise Vasistha’s Dhanurveda Samhita is a faithful rendering of the original composition of sage Vasistha who had it transmitted through a tradition of sages being traced back to gods Siva and Brahma and described in the Sukraniti as upaveda of the Yajurveda. The entire tradition permeates provocative material with different levels of interests and interpretations. Previously, largely unfamiliar to modern scholarship the subjects delineated here were compulsorily taught to such who wanted to acquire excellence in the skill. This meant laying down of thorough instructions and formularies by other sages like Parasurama, Visvamitra, Vaisampayana and Ausanas whose texts have been recovered in manuscript form from libraries of Tirupati, Nepal Darbar, Asiatic society, Bombay, Deccan College Research Institute, Pune and Oriental library of Baroda.

It is a richly textured work which has brought forth meticulously researched data for assessing the tradition of craftsmanship and a basic weaponry of war which cardinally affected the fabric of human society. The work provides interesting and scientific reading in regard to both physical and mystical implecations ranging from craftsmanship of the weaponry including measurements and qualities of bows and arrows, methods of teaching, shooting techniques to the use of medicines and charms and general war practices.

I appreciate Mrs. Ray’s attempt to revise interest in the ancillary sciences of the past through this evocative work on archerly, which is rare, indeed, and has been made accessible to scholars after much genuine and wakeful efforts of her. The translation is precisely lucid and connotative of intense lexicology.

 

Introduction

The existence of Dhanurveda or Science of Archery can be traced back