Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.45

c2.45

It may be recalled here that in the political play of Viśākhadatta in which the author of the *Arthaśāstra* is the leading character, Kauṭilya is made to use this device against Vairocaka, brother of Parvatakeśvara, the unwanted partner; Kauṭilya gets advance intelligence of the ruse employed by Rākṣhasa through an architect named Dāruvarman; the architect had erected a *yantra-toraṇa*, a mechanically fitted arch, which could be brought down by the drawing out of one of the fastening rods; this had been set up to kill Candragupta as he entered the palace for the coronation; and Kauṭilya offers Vairocaka as a victim to this *yantra-toraṇa*. This may be compared to the *Viśvāsa-ghātī* to be noticed below. A second ruse mentioned by Kauṭilya for the same purpose is a bedchamber in which part of the flooring has a mechanical contrivance; underneath this part of the floor is a deep cavity or a pit with pikes; and over it is placed the bed of the unwanted person; after he goes to sleep, the flooring is released and down goes the poor man with his bed.