Pre-modern Warfare:India And Elsewhere

[Guest]

With my rudimentary knowledge of Sanskrit, I can't do better than what other members here in interpreting the siege warefare terms from Sanskrit text.

Here is my translation/interpretation of all the 'war devices' mentioned in Silapadhigaram (The poem of the anklet) though. Silapadhigarma was written by a Chera prince Ilango Adigal (Circa 2nd to 3 rd Century CE). See this link for Tamil version http://www.intamm.com/m-science/war.htm#3 of the text.

I have tried to transliterate Tamil in to English and provide its English meaning as far as I understand. The blanks and ? indicate it is not complete.

1) Valaindhu thaane eyyum iyandira vil

Bending automatic mechanical bow

2) Kariya viraludya kurangu pola irundhu serndharai kadikkum Pori

A device that looks like a black fingered monkey(!) and bites those who come near it

3) Kallai umizhum kavan

Stone throwing catapult

4) Kaaindhu iraithalal serdhurai varuthum Nei

Dried spreadout(?) contraption(?) that attacks those who near it

5) Sembai urukkum mida
A huge melting pot (?) for copper

6) Urukkaichi a(Y?)rivatharku yekku patirukkum Ulaigal
Melting vessels for throwing iron?/ vessels for thowing molten iron?

7) Kal ittu vaikum koodai
Wicker basket for storing stones

8) Thoondil vadivaaga seidhu vidapattu vaithu madhil yerum yedhirigalai Koothu valikum karuvi

A contraption that looks like a fishing hook which is used to hook the enemy who climbs the fortress wall

9) Kazhukol pol kazhuthil pooti murukkum sangili

A noose like chain device that goes around the neck and twists the neck

10) Aandalaipul vadivaga panni parakavida uchhiyai kothi moolaiyai kadikum pori varisaigal

Categories of contraption designed like a ----, that which flies and hits the top of the head and bites the brain

11) Madhimel yeruvorai meriyathallum irrumbukavai

An iron device (stick?) that is used to push those who climb the fortress

12) Kazhukol, ambukattu

Noose(?) stick/Pivot stick, arrow bundle?

13) Yevaraigal

Contraption that can be sent (?)

14) Sittrambugalai vaithu aiyyum iyanthiram

Machine that is used to release short arrows

<b>Jamadagnya?</b>

15) Madhilin ucchiyai pidipavar kaigali kutthum oosi porikal

Contraption with needles that is used to pierce the hands of those who try to reach the top of the wall

16) Pagaivar mel sendru kannai kothum sechili pori

---- contraption that reaches and plucks the enemies eyes

17) Madhil ucchiyil errinar udalai kombal kizhikka irumbal seidhu vaitha pandri pori

A pig like contraption/capturing iron device with a stick that is used to tear the bodies of those who reach the top of the wall.

<b>Is this Sukarika?</b>

18) Moongil vadivaga pani adipadharku amaitha pori

Bambo like device that is used to hit ---

19) kadhavirku valimayaga ul vayirpadiyil vizhavidum marangal

Wooden beams/pillars in the inside entrace to support the door

20) kanaiya maram

----- tree/wooden pillar

21)Vittaeru

----- (something throwable?)

22) Kundham

-----
23) Ietti

Javelin

24)Nootruvarai kolli

That which kills hundreds

<b>This must be Shatagni</b>

25) Thallivetti

---- (Movable cutter?)

26) Kallitru Pori

Elephant(?) device (to attack elephants?)

27) Vizhungum paambu

Swallowing snake device

28)Kazhugup pori

Eagle contraption/device/machine

29) Pulippori

Tiger contraption/device/machine

30) Kudappaambu

----- snake (water vessel snake!)

31) Sakada Pori

------ contraption

32)Thagar polli

Destroying by collision ----- (Ram like?) [Thagar means destroy by contact]

33) Nyayil (Kurivithalai)

---- (Sparrow head) - Is this a Ram like device too?

Thanks

Venkat Subramanian