Iron Weapons

सोमारुद्रा धारयेथामसुर्यं पर वामिष्टयोऽअरमश्नुवन्तु ।

                              दमे दमे सप्त रत्ना दधाना शं नो भूतं दविपदेशं चतुष्पदे ॥ (6-75-1)

In this Rik, सप्त रत्ना = seven gems are mentioned. So during Rigvedic time, people were aware of gems.

                             तिग्मायुधौ तिग्महेती सुशेवौ सोमारुद्राविह सु मर्ळतं नः । 

                             पर नो मुञ्चतं वरुणस्य पाशाद गोपायतं नः सुमनस्यमाना ॥(6-75-4) 

In this Rik, तिग्मायुधौ=bright bows (weapon), तिग्महेती=sharp arrows (weapons) are mentioned. This may be an indication of metal weapons, though not directly.

                             आलाक्ता या रुरुशीर्ष्ण्यथो यस्या अयो मुखम् । 

                             इदं पर्जन्यरेतस इष्वै देव्यै बृहन्नमः ॥ (6-75-15)

In this Rik, आलाक्ता=oiled with poison, (arrows) रुरुशीर्ष्णी=with killer head, अयो मुखम्=which have iron-made tip is mentioned. Here, it is clearly mentioned about iron.

                             देवास आयन्परशूँरबिभ्रन्वना वृश्चन्तो अभि विड्भिरायन् । (10-28-8)

In this Rik, देवासः=Gods, परशून्=with axes, आयन्=came is mentioned. Here, the weapon “axe” is clearly mentioned. However, Sayana defines परशु as वज्रायुध ।

Thus, so manu instances can be quoted for iron or weapon of various metals.

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