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The 'primitive' in the Arthasästra
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food and drink placed on them are never exhausted (XIV. 3. 79-81). If a man desires that all the butter in the village should come under his possession, he should, at the time when a night show is going on, cut out the udders of a dead cow and burn them in the flames of a lamp. When burnt one should grind them with the urine of a bull and smear a new jar inside with it. When one takes it round the village leftwise, whatever butter may have been kept there by those villagers, all that comes into it (XIV 3.82-84). Similarly, in order to get fruits of all sorts, following technique may be applied On the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight when there is conjuction of the moon with the Puşya constellation, one should insert into the vulva of a bitch in heat an iron signet ring. One should pick it up when fallen of its own accord Fruits from trees come to one when called with it (XIV. 3.85-87),
In order to be able to walk through fire following technique may be adopted. One should smear his feet with oil boiled together with the fat of a frog and the pulp of the roots of Paribhadraka, Pratibala, Vañjula, Vajra, and Kadali. Then he can walk on burning charcoals. Before applying this oil to one's feet, one should clean them. Then one can walk upon the burning charcoals as on flowers (XIV. 2.27-29). A ball made of Pilu, with fire in the interior, with a knot of the root of Suvarcala or with a knot of thread, encircled by cotton, is a means of emitting fire and smoke from the mouth (XIV. 2 34). Fire, kindled by churning a speckled bamboo-reed in the bones of swimming birds, is not put out by water but burns with water (XIV. 2.37). Fire sprinkled with the oil of the Kusmara fruit, burns in rain and in strong winds (XIV. 2.35) Sea toam soaked in oil burns with water (XIV. 3 36). The musk-rat, the wag-tail and the salt-insect are ground to powder and mixed with the urine of a horse, they are a means of breaking chains (XIV. 2.39)
The Arthasastra prescribes various techniques for making oneself able to walk as much distance as one wants without being fatigued Thus smearing sandals made of camel-hide with
