Sutra 15

Devanagari script

यन्त्रगोष्पणमुष्टिपाषाणरोचनीदृषदश्चाश्मायुधानि ॥ कZ_०२.१८.१५ ॥

Transliteration

yantragoṣpaṇamuṣṭipāṣāṇarocanīdṛṣadaś cāśmāyudhāni

Translation

Stone-weapons (aśmāyudhāni) include engine-propelled stones, sling-stones, fist-stones, and whetstone-like/flat stones used as missiles.

Word by Word

• यन्त्र: mechanical devices/engines
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्त्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची/समाहारार्थे)

• गोष्पण: goṣpaṇa-type projectile/throwing implement (technical term)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोष्पण
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची)

• मुष्टि: fist-weapon / hand-held striking weapon
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची)

• पाषाण: stones (as missiles)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषाण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची)

• रोचनी: rocani-type igniting/incendiary material (technical term)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोचनी
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची)

• दृषद्: stone slabs/boulders
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृषद्
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची); प्रातिपदिकम्: दृषद् (शिला)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• अश्मायुधानि: stone weapons
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्मन् + आयुध
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन; समासः: अश्मनः आयुधानि = अश्मायुधानि

Entities Mentioned

• siege engines (yantra)
• slings
• stone munitions

More Details

FAQs

What strategic logic underlies stone munitions in state planning?

They are cheap, locally available, and scalable—critical for prolonged sieges and for arming garrisons without draining high-value metal stocks.