10 



THE NITIPRAKlSlKA. 



Ttantaka (tooth-thorn) ; and 12, musundi (octagon-headed ehib). 

 These weapons — among which as the seventh is mentioned 

 the musket — are placed in the first foot of the Dhanurveda. 23 

 For an explanation consult my monograph on the Weapons, 

 pp. 11-16, and Madras Journal, pp. 177-182. 



The second class counts twenty varieties and contains the 

 weapons which are deposited in the second foot of the Dhanur- 

 veda : 1, the vajra (thunderbolt) ; 2, IU (handsword) ; 3, par am 

 (axe) ; 4, goslrsa (cow-horn spear) ; 5, asidhenu (stiletto) ; 6, 

 lavitra (scythe) ; 7, asiara (bumarang) ; 8, kunta (lance) ; 9, 

 sthuna (anvil) ; 10, prdsa (spear) ; 11, pindka or trUula 

 (trident); 12, gadd (club); 13, mud gar a (hammer) ; 14, sira 

 (ploughshare) ; 15, musala (pestle) ; 16, pattisa (battle-axe) ; 

 17, maustika (fist-sword, dagger); \8,parigha (battering-ram); 

 19, mayukln (pole); and 20, sataghm (hundred-killer). 24 

 £ataghni. The word sataghm does not alford us any tangible clue 

 as to the nature of this formidable weapon. Indeed it seems 

 to have been both a weapon of defence and of offence, a 

 missile as well as a projectile weapon. It is compared with 

 the club [gadd), which spreads destruction among the forces 

 of the enemy either by knocking them down in hand-to-hand 

 fight or by doing dreadful execution amongst them when 

 hurled from afar. That the s'ataghni was used as a missile 

 in some way or other is apparent from many places where it 

 occurs as such in the epics, but, on the other hand, it is equally 

 certain that in other places it clearly denotes a projectile 

 weapon which throws a destructive missile on the enemy. In 

 each capacity, both as the cannon and as the shot, it deserves 

 its name — hundred-teller. The use of fire as the motive power 

 is easily accounted for if it is once admitted — which I believe 

 has been proved beyond doubt in my monograph on the 

 weapons of the ancient Hindus — that the ancient Hindus were 



23 See II, 17,18, and the whole of Chapter IV ; and Harivamsa, 227-235. 



24 See II, 19, 20, and Chapter V. Consult my Weapons, pp. 16-23, and 

 Madras Journal, pp. 182-189. 



