Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.44

c2.44

Before we come to its account of the main yantras of warfare, we shall note some of the other mechanical contrivances met with in Kauṭilya’s work. In II. 5, he refers to a dugout, *Bhūmigṛha*, and mentions for it a mechanical staircase which can be thrown in and withdrawn (*Yantra-yukta-sopāna*). While detailing the exact methods to be adopted for finishing off enemies and unwanted persons (XII. 5), Kauṭilya speaks of machines which could be conveniently pressed into service. When the unwanted person is entering a temple, from an overhead yantra there could be released on his head a piece of masonry or a stone to kill him instantly.