The Social and Military Position of the Ruling Caste in Ancient India, as Represented by the Sanskrit Epic c2.s5.735

c2.s5.735

puṣkarān), we have the ‘single-headed-drum’ as synonym for muraja, tambourine; and therewith the name of the drum-head in general, puṣkara. Jharjhara (compare Vāyu P. i. 40. 24) might possibly be a corruption of gargara (though the latter is stringed), a Vedic musical instrument. The tambourine is united with the lute on the heavenly car of the gods described in the pseudo-Epic (xiii. 106. 62, muraja and vīṇā). The sounds of these different instruments, as in the specimens above, are frequently imitated. In vii. 154. 25 ff., we find also phetkāra (nirhrāda of drums), the clanging weapon-sound, caṭacaṭā; and here too the rare drum paṭaha. In ix. 23. 70, kaṭakaṭā gives the sound of men. In vi. 44. 4, we find commingled kilakilāçabdāḥ with weapons, and in vii. 36. 17, the shouts halahalā with the general instrumental music (vāditra); while ib. 38. 12 gives hum as a shout, and the constant ‘shout of the lion’ as battle-cry. Here also we find kṣveḍitam, utkr̥ṣṭam, garjitam, noises of exhortation to fight—that is, battle-cries. And we notice that they are not idle sounds, for such rout an army at times, e. g. vi. 44. 27. The directions given in the pseudo-Epic are: ‘to encourage crowds (in battle) let such noises as these be made, kṣveḍāḥ, kilakilā, krakaca, with horns and drums,’ xii. 100. 46, 50. We may translate loosely: ‘hissing noises, shouts of hurrah, saw-noises, horns, large battle drums should encourage the army in their advance.’ As to the beating, however, we find āhata used of shells (e. g. R. vi. 57. 19), so that the instrument is not determined by the participle. One more drum is that called ḍiṇḍima in the description of viii. 11. 36-42, at the beginning of the day’s battle: ‘shells and drums were sounded; the shout of the lion was given; then came the neigh of horses and the war-cars’ heavy roll; and wing by wing and flank by flank they moved against the foe, dancing to battle.’ In this passage, beside the usual bherī, etc., we have the ‘din-maker,’ ḍiṇḍima, a drum. The paṭaha, v. 143. 20; (with bherī) in vi. 3. 42; R. iv. 38. 34 (with horn). I have noted no other form of Epic drum, except āḍambara in iv. 72. 27, marriage fête, with shell and horn, gomukha, and vii. 82. 4, with drums mentioned above. In R. vi. 37. 52, kumbhamukha seems to be a drum also, if not a bagpipe (‘pot-head’). The later word for drumstick, koṇa, is familiar to the Rāmāyaṇa, but not to the Epic.