Indian Epigraphy c16.s6.17

c16.s6.17

The Śātavāhana inscriptions of the second century A.D., discovered in the north-western part of the Deccan, mention a land measure called *Nivartana*¹ which is also known from later epigraphic records especially of the southern areas of India.² According to Śātātapa and Bṛhaspati, a *Nivartana* had the area of 300 × 300 square cubits ( about 4¾ acres )³ while a variant reading of Bṛhaspati’s text gives its area as 210 × 210 square cubits ( about 2¼ acres ) only.⁴ The Kauṭilīya *Arthaśāstra* (II. 20) speaks of the *Nivartana* as 240 × 240 square cubits in area (about 3 acres), though one of its commentators makes it 120 × 120 square cubits ( about ¾ acre ).⁴ Bhāskarācārya’s *Līlāvatī* speaks of the *Nivartana* as 200 × 200 square cubits in area (about 2 acres) which is supported by Hemādri’s *Caturvargacintāmaṇi*.⁵ The *Śukranītisāra* speaks of the *Nivartana* as 112 × 112 or 140 × 140 square cubits in area ( about ⅗ of an acre and about 1 acre respectively ), while Vasiṣṭha mentions it as 100 × 100 square cubits⁶ ( about ½ acre). The uncertainty about the exact area of a *Nivartana* in a particular region and age is also noticed in regard to most other ancient land measures.