The document describes archery techniques and the use of medicines and charms mentioned in the Vashishtha Samhita. Some key points: 1. It lists various plant roots and herbs that were used as pastes applied to the body, or worn as bands, to impart strength, courage and protection from weapons when going into battle. 2. Examples given include peepal, apamarg, shankhapushpi roots and powders of chichundri and wood apple mixed together. 3. It is proposed that these natural remedies may have contained steroids and the use of bands originated from such archery texts for protection of children. 4. More research is needed to

1. Use of Medicines, Charms in Archery
As depicted in Vashishtha Samhita
Compiled by
Dr. Ashok S. Nene
Professor of Civil Engineering. VNIT Nagpur
Secretary
Late G.G. Joshi Shilpa Sanshodhan Trust , Nagpur

2. Yuddha vidya –Warfare is the forth
technique under the science of Praakaar
Shastra.
Warfare-YuddhaVidya

3. Vedic literature mentions six Samhitas
compiled by sages;
1. Vasistha.
2. Vishvamitra ,
3. Jamadagnya
4. Aushanasa
5. Vaishampayan .
6. Shiva
Dhanurveda books on Archery

4. Vashishtha Samhita mentions the use of
Medicines, Charms in Archery.

5. 1. By applying a coat of the paste of the roots of
Peepali, collected on Hasta Nakshyatra, Sunday,
even a coward person wins over the mighty
fighter.
हतार्क
े लाग्डली र्क
ं दो गृहीतस्तस्य लेपत: ।
शूरस्यापप रणे पंसो दपप हरतत र्कातर:॥१॥

6. 2.One has to collect the roots of Apamarg plant
on Pushy Nakshyatra, Sunday. If the fighter
applies the paste of Apamarg roots all over his
body during battle time, he is sure to make futile
the enemy’s missiles.
गृहहत्वा योगनक्षत्रेरपामागपस्य मूलर्क
ं ।
लेपमात्रेण वीराणां सवपशत्रतनवारणम् ॥२॥

7. 3 The roots of Adhahpushpi ,
Shankhapushpi, Lajjalu, GirikarNika,
Kumudini, Sahadevi. Munja, Arka, Aparajitaa
are useful in war.
अध: पष्पी शंखपष्पौ लज्जालर्गपरिरर्क्णपर्का ।
नललनी सहदेवीच पत्रमोज्जार्क
प योस्तथा ॥३॥

8. 4.These confer Victory when tied on the
arms or applied over the body of a warrior.
पवष्णर्कान्ता च सवापसां जटा ग्राह्या रवेहदपने ।
बध्दा भजे पवलेपाव्दा र्काये शस्त्रापवारर्का:॥४॥

9. 5.The person whose body is abode of
Astamatrukas will not be afraid of the
ferocious animals like snake , tiger etc.
सपपव्याघ्राहदसत्त्वानां भूतादीनां न जायते ।
भीततस्तस्य स्स्थता यस्य मातरोऽष्टौ
शरिररर्क
े ॥५॥

10. 6.Even the strongest elephant will certainly
not be able to come nearer if the warrior
keeps with the powder of Chichundri,
received on the Hasta Nakshyatra day.
गृहहतं हस्तनक्षत्रे चूणं छच्छन्दरी भवम्।
तत्रभावद् गज: पस: सम्मखं नैतत तनस्चचतम्॥६॥

11. 7.In order to prevent the horse’s advent , one
has to throw the flesh of tiger or jackal on its
way.
हरिरमांसं गृहीत्वा च मागेऽचवानां क्षक्षपेद् भपव ।
तेन मागेण चे चाचवा नायास्न्त ताडनेन वै ॥७॥

12. 8. If the warrior applies the mixture of
Chuchindri and the powdered fruit of wood
apple on his body , then the odor produced is
sure to pacify even a mad elephant.
छच्छन्दरी श्रीफलपष्प चूणैराललप्तगात्रस्य नरस्य दूरात ्।
आघ्राय गन्धं स्व्दरदोऽततमत्तोमदं त्यजेत र्क
े सरिरंणो यथोग्रम ्॥८॥

13. 9The roots of SwetadriksrNika creeper ( clitoria
genus) even if worn as wristband can prevent
the advent of an elephant and the roots of
Kantarika prevents approach of a tiger.
चवेताहिर्क्णपर्का मलं पा्णस्थं वारयेद् गजम ्।
चवेतर्कण्टारिरर्कामूलं व्याध्रादीनां भयं हरेत ्॥९॥

14. 10. The root of Patha creeper (uprooted on
Pushy Nakshyatra day) if retained in the
mouth of a warrior , it would ward off any
sharp weapon.
पष्यार्कोत्पाहटते मले पाठाया: मखसंस्स्थते।
देहं स्फरतत नो तीक्ष्णमण्डलाग्रै रणे नृणाम ॥१०॥

15. 11. The approaching weapons of the enemy can
be prevented by keeping the root of Gandhari
tree, uprooted on Pushy Nakshyatra day, in the
mouth of a warrior.
गान्धार्ययाप उत्तरं मूलं मखस्य सन्मखागतम।
शत्रौघं वारयेत्तत्र पष्यार्क
े पवर्धनोध्ृत्तम॥११॥

16. Glossary of botanical Terms
SN Sanskrit English –Latin in (bracket)
1 अपामागप A medicinal plant Achyra Aspera
2 पपप्पली A medicinal plant
3 अध:पष्पी Pimpinella Anisum
4 शंखपष्पी Canscora Decussata
5 लज्जाल Mimosa
6 र्कमहदनी Water Lily
7 सहदेवी Vernonia Cererea
8 मंज Species of sedge like grass

17. Glossary of botanical Terms
SN Sanskrit English –Latin in (bracket)
9 र्गरिरर्क्णपर्का Variety of Achyranthes with white
bloosoms
10 अर्क
प Calatrogis Gigantea
11 अपरास्जता clitoria Ternatea (blue)
12 पाठा /पहाडवेल Cyclea peltata
13 र्क
ं टर्कारिरर्का Solananum JacQuini
14 गांधारी Bauhinia variegata
15 चवेताहिक्ष्ण
र्का
clitoria genus
16a छच्छन्दरी Leguminosae (Mucuna Prurita hook )
16b छच्छन्दरी A female musk rat.

18. Glossary of Miscellaneous Terms
SN Sanskrit English –Latin in (bracket)
1 त्रयोदशी The thirteenth lunar asterism.
2 अष्टमी Eighth lunar asterism
3 हस्त नक्षत्र 15th Constantine
4 पष नक्षत्र 15th Constantine
5 अष्टमातृर्का Eight mother goddesses (Ref.
Varah PuraN 27.34

19. 19
From the information presented herein, it can be concluded that;
• Medicines, Charms in Archery, prescribed in Vashishtha Samhita can
be grouped under three types viz. a)To be kept on mouth, b)To be
worn as band on wrist or shoulder, or c)Herbal powder to be
smeared on the whole body.
• Probably these materials may contain some form of steroids.
• Use of wrist band, waist band or shoulder band for children might
have been originated from such Archery texts.
• More research is necessary to be conducted to validate such
information.
Conclusions

20. References
Vashistha Dhanurveda Samhita, English
Translation (2003) by Purnima Ray, Published by
J.P. Publishing House, Shakti Nagar , Delhi
110007
Civil engineering applications of indian herbs
(slideshare.net)
Prakar Shastra ancient forts and castles in
ancient India – E book

21. Images of Botanical Species

24. 16 छच्छन्दरी

25. Review the Past with modern perspective -
Kautilya