Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c7.113

c7.113

It is also stated in the drama that the city was surrounded by a rampart (*prākāra*) on which archers (*śarasandharāḥ*) could be posted in its defence. The city is also described to be of many gates at which were stationed elephants strong enough to break through the array of the enemy's elephants [II, 13]. We are further told that one of the gates was fitted with a mechanical gate (*Yantra-toraṇa*) which could be let down by manipulating an iron bolt (*loha-kīlakam*) [II, 15].