Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c42.s3.4

v2.c42.s3.4

The *Mahābhārata* recorded the onset of iron age in India. Iron is everywhere on the scene, for arrows, spears and other weapons referred to as *ayas* (6.50.68; 9.14.3), *pāraśava* (6.76.36; 9.14.14), *adrisāramaya* (3.170.49), *aśmasāramaya* (8.66.58), *karṣṇāyasa* (7.28.4), etc. Thirty to forty different types of arrows were described. The Vedic *rsti* disappeared. The sword (2.47.1) (*asi, khadga*) assumed increasing importance but the literature described it as a defensive weapon compared to the arrows. Similarly body-armours like *kavaca* (5.150.81), *varma* (1.28.11; 3.24.3), *dehāvarana* (8.10.29), *śirastrāna* (6.31.54; 8.16.25) were used for protection. A typical weapon associated with durga or fort was *śataghni* (1.199.32; 3.274.22; 7.108.40; 9.12.24) which was a huge structure, studded with spikes and provided with wheels or *cakras*; this was described by Kautilya.