War in Ancient India c6.s3.51

c6.s3.51

It is of particular interest to read the legendary origin of the sword. Nakula, the best swordsman of his day, asked Bhīṣma on his death-bed how it came into being. The following is the substance of what Bhīṣma said in reply.⁹² Brahmā created all creatures and also the Vedas. But the Asuras never paid heed to these and often had recourse to evil ways. The people could no more bear their misdeeds and prayed to Brahmā for help. Then he made a great sacrifice. Out came from the sacrificial fire an ugly creature at which the whole world trembled. It soon changed into a sword lustrous and sharp-edged. It was given to Rudra who single-handed cut and pierced a mighty host of the Asuras. After this Rudra gave this weapon to Viṣṇu, who in his turn presented it to Marīci, from whom it successively came into the hands of Vasava, the Lokapālas, Manu, his son Ikṣvāku, and Purūruvas. Then it changed several hands such as Nahuṣa, Yayāti, Bharata, Raghu, Bharadvāja, Droṇa, Kṛpa, and from this last to the Pāṇḍavas. It had for its star the Kṛttikā Nakṣatra. Its presiding deity was Agni, the god of fire. It belonged to the Rohiṇī community and its first preceptor was Rudra himself. Hence all soldiers were to worship this weapon of weapons.