14 



THE NIT1PRAKA.61KA. 



The fourth class possesses six weapons, but though these 

 are only few, they are all-powerful and irresistible ; they 

 reside in the fourth foot of the Dhanurveda. 27 



The enumeration of the weapons is followed by the story 

 of the sage Dadhici, who allowed his body to become the 

 depository of the 32 weapons of the two first classes after the 

 gods had been defeated in battle by the Asuras and had thrown 

 away their weapons on their flight. Subsequently, as the 

 gods wish to obtain again possession of their arms, a cow 

 licks them out of the body of the sage, who, for his self- 

 sacrifice, is transferred to heaven. 28 

 Third The third chapter contains the origin of the sword, the 

 Chapter. cna p^ er being devoted to this subject. 29 



Fourth The fourth and fifth chapters are devoted, as we have seen, 

 Chapters, to the description of the weapons belonging to the first two 

 classes. The fifth chapter ends with an enumeration of the 

 terrible weapons and implements which are used in the wars 

 during the Kaliyuga, especially are mentioned machines made 

 of metal, stone and other materials which throw balls on the 

 enemy, big rocks, saws, smoke-balls, burning husk-coals, hot 

 sand, boiling oil, melting sugar -treacle, resin of the sal-tree, 

 pots filled with honey and poisonous serpents, and other like 

 preparations. 



With respect to the balls mentioned above some verses in 

 the Atharvanaveda appear to support the existence of leaden 

 balls. Lead is there mentioned as the metal with which the 

 Raksasas are to be destroyed, and as weapons made of lead 

 alone, or of which lead forms the principal ingredient, do 

 hardly exist — as lead is by far too soft and does not Tecom- 

 mend itself for being made use of in spikes, spears, &c. — the 

 supposition that by lead leaden balls are meant seems very 

 probable. The verses run as follows: Yaruna blessed the 

 lead ; Agni is fond of the lead ; Indra gave me the lead ; it 



27 See II, 40 ; Weapons, p. 30 ; and Madras Journal, p. 196. 



28 See II, 43-60 ; Weapons, pp. 23, 24 ; and Madras Journal, pp. 1 89, 190. 

 w See Chapter III, Weapons, pp. 24, 25, and Madras Journal, pp. 190, 191. 



