Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c41.s11.2

v2.c41.s11.2

The *Arthaśāstra* outlined the duties of the Superintendent of the *āyudhāgāra* or Armoury; he should supervise making of weapons, armours and accoutrements by artisans, and also of machines for use in battles, for the defence of forts and for assault on the enemies’ cities (2.18.1). Various kinds of iron or steel swords were described: *nistriṃśa* (with curved tip and beyond thirty *aṅgulas*), *maṇḍalāgra* (straight with a round tip), *asiyaṣṭi* (thin and long), each variety provided with hilts made of horn of the rhinoceros or buffalo (2.18.12-13). The razor-type (*kṣurakalpāḥ*) weapons were: *paraśu* (all metal 24 *aṅgulas* long), *paṭṭasa* (an axe with a trident at one end or both ends), *kuthāra*, *khanitra*, spade, *trakaca* or saw, *kāṇḍacchedana*, a big axe, etc. (2.18.14). Various shields and armours like *lohajālikā*, *paṭṭa*, *kavaca*, etc. were manufactured (2.18.16). Arrows were iron-tipped (2.18.11). The fixed and mobile ‘machines’ were used to hurl metallic and stone missiles (2.18.5-6).