The Social and Military Position of the Ruling Caste in Ancient India, as Represented by the Sanskrit Epic c2.s5.553

c2.s5.553

∗ Although the Petersburg Lexicon correctly explains the rathaçakti as a ‘banner-staff’ in the passage which it quotes (rathaçaktīṃ samāçritya, H. 9363; like dvajayaṣṭīṃ samāçritaḥ, vi. 101. 48), the general use is that of a weapon. † ayasī çaktiḥ, vi. 104. 30; sarvapāraçavī, 116. 52. ‡ hemapaṭṭā gadā, the golden-plated club, is flung first; then the çakti, ib. § i. 194. 7; vii. 186. 42; vi. 111. 11. ‖ in vi. 53. 14; 54. 111, it is cut into three pieces (the description coinciding with the last). ¶ sarvapāraçavīṃ çaktim . . saghaṇṭāṃ prāhinot, vii. 92. 66: eight of these are casually mentioned, vii. 106. 29; or even one hundred: çata-ghaṇṭā çaktiḥ, iii. 286. 3 (different kinds of spears, iii. 290. 24). ** I group the texts quoted together: rathaçaktīṃ dīptāṃ mumoca, x. 6. 13; rathaçaktīḥ samutkṣipya, vii. 32. 58; dorbhyāṃ āyamya (in vii. 107. 16) is like dhanur āyamya, stretching forth and aiming with the bow; sa rathe . . tiṣṭhan rathaçaktīṃ parāmṛcat svarṇadaṇḍām akunṭhāgrāṃ sunirmalām, samudyamya ca cikṣepa . . sā tasya hṛdayam . . bibheda, ix. 10.