Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c39.s6.2

v2.c39.s6.2

The names of several new iron instruments appeared in the later Vedic literature; possibly there had been no prototypes in copper or bronze. Parigha was an iron bar to keep door(s) closed from inside (Chā. Up., 2.24.6, 10 and 15). It also represented an iron cudgel used in warfare. Pariṇaha was an iron chest or sinduka for storing valuable items (AV, 19.48.1). Two-armed iron tongs was known as pariśās (Ś. Brā., 14.1.3.1; 14.2.1.16; 14.2.2.54; 14.3.1); this resembles modern sandāsi and was used to lift hot crucibles and vessels from a furnace. Praśasa was an axe or some other instrument for cutting (Ait. Brā., 2.6.5, Nir., 5.11). Śāsa stood for a sword or knife (Ait. Brā., 7.17.15, Sāṅkh. ŚS., 15.25.1, Ś. Brā., 3.8.1.4-5, 13.2.3.16). A stick of iron was known as śalyaka (Vā. Sam., 24.35, Ait. Brā., 3.26.3).