IPS 



ON THE WEAPONS USED 



On the other hand we meet occasionally precepts which 

 certainly do not exhibit a great amount of human kindness. 

 Thus we read in the Pancatantra : " By a wise man should 

 an enemy be killed, even if he be his son-in-law ; if no other 

 means be possible, he who murders commits no sin. A 

 soldier who goes to the battle does not think about right and 

 wrong ; Dhrstadyumna was in olden times murdered in his 

 sleep by the son of Drona." 59 



The war machines which the ancient Indians used, whether 

 they were made of metal or of stone, and out of which they 

 hurled iron and lead balls at their enemies, were doubtless 

 discharged by means of gunpowder. The existence of 

 gunpowder is intimated by Vaisampayana in his description 

 of the nalika and by the application of smoke-balls which, 

 according to the commentator of Vaisampayana, were really 

 made of gunpowder. 60 The ancient Hindus were also, as is 

 well known, great adepts in the art of smelting and casting 

 metals. 



The old Hindus displayed a great ingenuity in inventing 

 injurious and irritating compounds and refined expedients 

 for hurling them amongst the enemy during a combat. 61 



Boiling oil has been used by many nations in different 

 parts of the globe, and the old Indians believed also in its 

 efficacy, but they used besides explosive oil. The resin of the 

 Sal tree (Shorea robusta), which resin is also called kalakala, 

 is recommended likewise. The casting of melted sugar is 

 mentioned as well as that of heated sand. Pots filled with 

 venomous snakes mixed together with honey, spikes and big 

 stones, saws, smoke-balls, burning husks of corn, and other 

 injurious preparations were frequently employed in India. 



59 See Pancatantra, I. 299, 300. 



60 Dhumagulika is explained by Curnagola, powderball. 



61 See Nitiprakasika, V. 52. 



52. Yantrani lohaslsanam gulikaksepakarii ca 

 tatha copalayantrani krtriraanyaparani ca. 



