Knowledge of Zoology and Animals in the Śiśupālavadha

The knowledge of zoology is specially found in the epic Śiśupālavadha. Among them aśvaśāstra hastiśāstra uṭaśāstra are remarkable. In the ancient time these animals were used for war in the battle field. So, to maintain and protecting these animals, special knowledge is very much important.

Horses are described as Kāla in Kāla hymn of the Atharvaveda—

“kālo aśvo vahati saptaraśmiḥ” |

Mallinātha has shown horses as the sons of Godess Lakṣmī ‘lakṣmīputra'śva ādye ca’ commentary in the Śiśupālavadha ‘śriyaḥ ātmajā’: (15/78) |

Māgha said that horses of Āratta were better breeds. The horses can run accordingly with the intensities of whipping. The coachman knew the skills to stop the horse.

The following verse shows the detailed description of the above statement.

“tejonirīdhasamatāvāhitena yantrā samyak kaśātraya vicāravatā niyukkaḥ |
āraṭṭajaścaṭulaniṣṭhura pātamuccaiścitraṃ cakāra padamardhapulāyitena ||”5. 10 ||^[1]

Galloping is called pulā. In this context Mallinātha says in the commentary of the tenth verse of the fifth canto—

‘pulākhyayā ayitaṃ gati pulāyitam’ |

To control the rein, is discussed by the experts.

“avyākulaṃ prakṛtamuttaradheya karmadhārāḥ prasādhayitumavyatikīrṇarūpāḥ
siddhaṃ mukhe navasu vīthisu kaścidaśvaṃ valgāribhāgakuśalo gamayāmvabhūva || 5. 60 ||^[2]

The picture of horse race is painted in the fifty third verse of the fifth canto.

“gatyūnamārgajatayo'pi gato rumārgaḥ svairaṃ samācakṛṣire bhuvi vellanāya |
darpodayollasitaphenajalānusārasaṃlakṣyapalyayana vardhrapadāsturaṅgāḥ ||” 5. 53 ||^[3]

The rules of horse riding have also been discussed in the twelfth canto.

“svairaṃ kṛtāsphālanalālitān puraḥ sphurattanūn darśita lāghavakriyāḥ |
valgāvalagnaikasavalgāpāṇayastu raṅgamānāruruhustu raṅgiṇaḥ” || 12. 6 ||^[4]

Gajaśāstra (gajaśāstra) is discussed in the fifth and seventeenth canto in the Śiśupālavadha.

The characterestic of elephants, scented elephant (ganghahastī), matured elephant, the seven place of secretion of surā (madadhārā), the rules of taming the elephant, are described in the Śiśupālavadha.

Poet has described elephants as sāmajāḥ—

“dantā dantairāhatāḥ sāmajānāṃ bhaṅgaṃ—jagmunarṇa svaraṃ sāmajātāḥ ||” 18. 33 ||^[5]

Here sāmajātāḥ means—elephant (18/33)

Poet Māgha knows the seventh place of the secretion of mada of the elephants.

“madāmbhasā parigalitena saptaghāgajān janaḥ śamitarajaścūyānadhaḥ |
uparyavasthitaghanapāṃśumaṇḍalānalokayattatapamaiṇḍapāṇiva || 17. 68 ||^[6]

Mallinātha commented on this verse. He described about the seventh place of secretion.

According to Mallinātha the explanation of saptadhā (saptadhā) are—

“karāt kaṭābhyāṃ meṭrācca netrābhyāṃ ca madastrutiḥ iti pālakāvye |” (Commentary of the verse 17/68).

Poet described also the methods of riding elephants.

“utkṣiptagātraḥ sma viḍamvayannabhaḥ samutpatiṣyantamagendramuccakaiḥ |
ākuñcitaprohanirupitakramaṃ kareṇurārohayate niṣādinam || 12. 5 ||^[7]

Excellent description about controlling the elephant using goad by the elephant keeper is seen in Māgha’s epic in the twelfth vers of the twelfth canto.

“pratyanyanāgaṃ calitastarāvatā nirasyakuṇṭaṃ dadhatā'nyamaṅkuśam |
mūrddhānamūrddhāyatadantamaṇḍalaṃ dhūvannarodhi dvirado niṣādinā |”

Except horses and elephants, the poet described the characteristics and beheaviour of camel, ox, mule etc.

The following verse describes the behavior of camel.

“utthātumicchan vidhṛtaḥ purovalānnidhīyamāne bharabhājiyantrake |
urddhorjmjhitotgāravijharjharasvaraḥ svanāma ninye ravaṇaḥ sphuṭāthatām ||” 12. 9 ||^[8]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

ibid., p. 193.

[2]:

ibid., p. 222.

[3]:

ibid., p. 218.

[4]:

ibid., p. 472.

[5]:

ibid., p. 756.

[6]:

ibid., p. 437.

[7]:

ibid., p. 472.

[8]:

ibid., p. 474.