War in Ancient India c6.s4.12

c6.s4.12

The Arthaśāstra again mentions twenty-seven machines of which only five—the Musala, the Mudgara, the Cakra, the Gadā and the Śataghnī—are referred to by Vaiśampāyana. Another important fact that we gather is that in the time of Kauṭalya the forts must have become indispensable sources of defence, military architecture being highly developed. The ten immovable machines mentioned by Kauṭalya are not found in the early literature, from which it can be safely inferred that fortifications had not developed to any great extent in the days of the Nītiprakāśikā. The immovable machines, according to the author of the Arthaśāstra,¹⁰³ are Sarvatobhadra (a small cart capable of hurling stones on all sides), Jāmadagnya (a large machine to shoot arrows), Bahumukha (one with archers), Viśvāsaghāti (a cross beam at the gateway so placed as to make it fall when the enemy enters), Saṅghāti (a long pole to set fire to the fort), Yānaka (a rod mounted on a wheel to be hurled against enemies), Parjanyaka (a water-machine to put out fire), Bāhu (two pillars placed opposite each other to be pulled down when enemies enter) and Ardhabāhu (a pillar measuring half of the above). Again, the following movable machines are given: Pāñcālika (a wooden beam with sharp points outside the fort wall), Devadaṇḍa (a pole with nails), Sūkārika (a leather wall to protect the roads, towns, etc. against stones thrown by enemies), Yaṣṭi (a pointed rod of khadira), Hastivāraka (a rod with two or three points to prevent elephants from resting on), Tālavṛnta (a form like that of disc), Spṛktalā (a rod with sharp points on its surface), Kuddāla (a spade), Sphāṭima (a leather bag with a rod), Audaghātima (a machine to pull down towers, etc.) and Triśūla (a trident). There is ample testimony to indicate that some of the machines were employed in actual operations: the missile Tastra was used by the son of king Śatrujit against Pātālaketu and other demon warriors.¹⁰⁴ In the battle between Śālva Rāja and Bhīṣma both Varuṇa and Aindra weapons were used.¹⁰⁵ Again, Arjuna used the Vāyavya weapon in his encounter with the Nāgas, and it had the power of staying thunder, lightning, winds, and several other forces.¹⁰⁶ He also used Salila and Śaila weapons to ward off illusions of fire and wind from the Nivāta-kavacas.¹⁰⁷ Droṇa used the Aindra, Vāyavya and Āgneya astras during the Great War,¹⁰⁸ while his son employed Nārāyaṇāstra in another encounter.¹⁰⁹ The other weapons used by Arjuna are the Nāga missile, the Saupada, the Indrajāla, Sthūlakarṇa, the Pāśupata, and the Bhārgava.¹¹⁰ Arjuna also used the Māhendra mentioned as a fire-arm in the great epic literature. Rāma employed, besides the above, the Brahmadatta bāṇa.¹¹¹ In the engagement between Lakṣmaṇa and Atikāya, the latter used the Rudra and the Nārāyaṇa missiles, while the former used the Brahmaśiras.¹¹² In the battie between Angada and the Rākṣasa Kampaṇa, several missiles, like the Kṣuras, Kṣurapras, Vatsadantas, Śilīmukhas, Karṇicalyas, and Vipāthas are found used.¹¹³