12 THE NITIPRAKA^IKA. 



same meaning, but where the commentator is reported to 

 have explained it merely by flame {jvdlayd), which is no 

 doubt a very insufficient interpretation, as the meaning of 

 surmi rather points to a hollow tube. 



The ear-like hole (Jcarnaka) penetrates through the 



cylinder in this manner # Q — j 1. The hole 



where a is found is called the vent, harm, and the very same 

 expression is used in the Sukraniti (p. 194, IV, 7, 196 : see 

 Weapons, p. 106;. The inside and outside blazing mentioned by 

 Bhattabhaskara refers to the firing the gun (at a), and the 

 flame appearing outside the muzzle after the discharge (at b). 



The weight of these Yedic verses and of their commen- 

 taries can hardly be overrated, as they clearly establish the 

 existence of ancient firearms in the earliest time of Indian 

 history. We need hardly dilate further on this subject, 

 which, as far as textual evidence and interpretation goes, is 

 settled. The sataghrii occurs also in tho epic literature as a 

 projectile weapon lighted by fire, e.g., in the Harivamsa 

 (sataghnibhisca dijptabhis) . 25 



2» See Kxsnayajurveda, I, 5, 7, 6 : (T^J ^ frfft 



wi^m% ^w^sfi qsnrHi wtprrc *?*fit 



The jnanayajha of Bhattabhaskara on this verse runs as follows : — 



TOT ??ttt% i srostft sTftft f^prr ^rf i *tVt- 



*T fl% 35JF*9. ni, 2, 118) cRtfl^qi tf[%T- 



