The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c10.373

v1.c10.373

**Fire-arms, Catapults, &c. :** From the frequent mention of the *Agni Astra* or "fire-arms", it is to be inferred that the Hindus had some instruments for hurling shells or balls of burning matter against their enemies ; but no description of any such has yet been met with. There are two scenes of sieges among the Sāñcī bas-reliefs, but no traces in them of battering rams, or catapults of any kind for breaking down walls, or for hurling stones amidst the ranks of the enemy, or of engines for casting burning matter to a distance to set fire to besieged towns and fortresses, are visible. There are several martial processions and battle scenes at Bhuvaneśvara; but they too are devoid of any evidence on the subject. In the *Udyoga Parva* of the *Mahābhārata*, Yudhiṣṭhira is described as collecting large quantities of rosin, tow, and other inflammable articles for his great fratricidal war; but nothing is there said of any engine with which they could be hurled against his enemies. The only instruments named, which could be assumed to have belonged to this class, are the *Mahāyantra* or "the great engine", and the *Śataghni* or "centicide", a mitrailleuse which could kill a hundred at a time; but what they were like, and how they worked, is not known.