History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.480.3

v4.c62.480.3

In the Vanaparva 15 there is a fine description of Dvāravatī (Dvārkā) besieged by Śālva, in which it is said that the capital had numerous towers and turrets, machines, tomaras, aṅkuśas, śataghnīs &c. In Ādi. 207. 34, Vanaparva 169. 16, 284. 5, 290. 24, Droṇa 156. 70, Karṇa 11. 8, Śalya 45. 110 the śataghnī is mentioned, but it is impossible to find from these what exactly it was like. From Vanaparva 284. 31 it appears that the śataghnīs were discharged with force by the hands and had wheels and round balls or stones in it. In Droṇa 179. 46 it is said that the śataghnī employed by Ghaṭotkaca had wheels and killed four horses at once. In Droṇa 199. 19 śataghnīs are said to have two or four wheels. In Vanaparva²⁸² 284. 4 it is said that the powder of *sarjarasa* (resin from Sal tree) had been collected. In the Harivaṁśa (Bhaviṣyaparva 44. 20), among the weapons hurled at Narasiṁha by Hiraṇyakaśipu were blazing śataghnīs (śataghnībhiśca dīptābhir-daṇḍairapi sudāruṇaiḥ). In Rāmāyaṇa VII. 32. 44 we are told that at the tip of the weapon called musala (club) blazed forth fire like a bunch of Aśoka flowers. The Sundarakāṇḍa couples together *śataghnī* and *musala* (4. 18). It looks probable that resinous powder was used in some cylindrical contrivance (or rockets) mounted on wheels and capable of throwing stones. But gunpowder appears not to have been used. There is no description of smoke due to śataghnīs. Hopkins (J. A. O. S.