War in Ancient India c6.24

c6.24

It is said that the archer who uses bows as described in the Śāstras attains great glory.¹⁵ For example, Bhīṣma used a bow six cubits long against Śankha, a diocesan. That Kālidāsa is well acquainted with the use of the bow is seen from the Raghuvamśa. He refers to the twang of the bowstring of both Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa heard by Tāṭakā.¹⁶ Also in the Śakuntalam there are several references in which Duṣyanta is credited with high skill in archery.¹⁷ Thus the chief weapon of war in primitive days was the bow which was drawn to the ear, and not as in Greece, to the breast. Its use is not altogether extinct even now. The Khaśas or the hill tribes of Assam have a simple bow while the Western Nagas have a bullet bow. Incidentally we may speak of the crow-bow whose origin is attributed to Mongolia and which is now in popular use with the tribes of Indo-China.¹⁸ In Wilson's words, ‘the Hindus cultivated archery most assiduously and were very Parthians in the use of the bow on horse-back.’ One feature of this weapon was that it could be handled by all the four classes of warriors.