Pre-modern Warfare:India And Elsewhere

[Guest]

Hi. I am new here from an invitation from Srirangan to post my questions on Indian catapults on this forum.

I'm in the process of completing my book on Chinese Siege Warfare which includes a final chapter on catapults of other cultures. Does anyone have information on pre-islamic invasion catapults?

These are 3 that I've come across with names in Sanskrit. Does someone here knowledgeable in Sanskirt maybe help decipher the names, hopefully getting more clues on how these catapults works or looked like? Srirangan has helped with an initial translation.

1. Mahaashilaakantaka - Great Stone/Rock Obstruction?

2. Sarvatobhadra - Everywhere Stable?

3. Hastivaraka - ?

Thanks in advance.

Respectfully,
Liang Jieming