Mace

In the heroic world of Premanand's *Okhaharan*, the mace stands as one of the most potent symbols of martial power and divine authority. As a heavy, crushing weapon favoured by warriors of immense strength, it appears at pivotal moments of combat, lending those scenes a sense of raw, elemental force that distinguishes them from the more nimble exchanges of swords or arrows.

Premanand, the celebrated seventeenth-century Gujarati poet, uses the mace with careful dramatic purpose. When mighty figures such as Aniruddha's adversaries or the defenders of Shonitpur wield this weapon, it signals that the conflict has escalated to its most fearsome register. The thunderous imagery surrounding the mace connects earthly battle to cosmic struggle, reminding the audience that the stakes extend far beyond personal honour.

Within the devotional framework of the poem, the mace also carries a Vaishnava resonance, evoking the *kaumodaki* of Lord Vishnu and thereby suggesting divine sanction behind the righteous warrior's cause. Its appearances thus serve both narrative and spiritual functions, enriching Premanand's retelling of this beloved episode from the *Bhagavata Purana*.