The Social and Military Position of the Ruling Caste in Ancient India, as Represented by the Sanskrit Epic c2.s5.604.3

c2.s5.604.3

It means a ‘hundred killer,’ against the spear as a ‘single-killer’ (see above). We saw, however, just now, that if a spear is properly spiritualized it can also kill its hundreds and return to its owner. In the Epic use it is a simple projectile. It is flung by hand (Wilson denies this), and, like a sword or a spear, is ‘split to pieces’ by the arrows of the foe. Just as a sword or spear is ornamented with bells, so a *çataghnī* is ornamented with bells. It forms one of a group of missiles, darts, arrows, etc. As common arrows are called glowing, so the *çataghnī* is ‘bright’ and ‘horrible’; but even a bow is like ‘a wheel of fire.’ Fire-comparisons are employed for poetic effect. Only a prosaic or forced interpretation would allow us to render ‘fiery’ as really ‘of fire.’ A knight seizes a quantity of *çataghnīs*, along with quoits, balls, and stones, for throwing purposes. The demons, indeed, employ these, but so they do all other mortal arms. The name is used as a strong argument, but we must not forget that, if ‘hundred-killer’ seems to imply a projectile that explodes, a common hook is called an ‘all-killer.’ Moreover, this very name is applied to Bhīma’s ordinary club.*