War in Ancient India c6.s1.14

c6.s1.14

The Śukranītisāra uses nālika in this sense and speaks of two kinds of nālikas, the large and the small. The latter was used by horsemen and footmen. The bigger variety which had no wooden stock was carried on wheels. The agnicūrṇa or gunpowder was composed of 4 to 6 parts of salt-petre, one part of sulphur, and one part of charcoal of arka, sruhi and other trees burnt in a pit and reduced to powder. Here is certain evidence of the ancient rockets giving place to actual guns in war-fare. From the description of the composition of gunpowder, a later date is ascribed to the composition of the Śukranīti which cannot stand close scrutiny. Be this as it may, the conclusion is unmistakable that guns were largely in use even not far after the beginning of the Christian era. In the Vāsiṣṭha Dhanurveda, a later work, nārāca, nālika, śataghni figure as fire-arms.⁴⁴