Indian Epigraphy c15.t2.3

c15.t2.3

In the early astronomical and arithmetical works, single such words are generally used to indicate particular number. Piṅgala, Varāhamihira and later authors use such words with numerical meanings as grouped in Dvandva compounds. But, while Piṅgala’s *ved-artu-samudrāḥ* means ‘4 or 6 or 4’, Varāhamihira’s *kha-kh-aṣṭi-yamāḥ* would mean ‘0 and 0 and 16 and 2’ to be read actually from right to left as 21600.¹ This principle of *aṅkānāṁ vāmato gatiḥ*, ‘the movement of the numerals from right to left’, is generally followed in the dates expressed in inscriptions in word-numerals although there are a few exceptions especially in late records.² Such numerical words are sometimes found also in the ordinary enumeration of a number in words; cf. *Śaka* 1172 indicated by *dvisaptaty-adhika-Śiva-śata*,³ in which *Śiva* means ‘eleven.’