[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Vedic Index of Names and Subjects](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912) › v1.c3.s18.102 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s18.102 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s18.102 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c3.s18.102](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18.102) Daśan, ‘ten,’ forms the basis of the numerical system of the Vedic Indians, as it does of the Āryan people generally. But it is characteristic of India¹ that there should be found at a very early period long series of names for very high numerals, whereas the Āryan knowledge did not go beyond 1,000. In the Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā² the list is 1; 10; 100; 1,000; 10,000 (ayuta); 100,000 (niyuta); 1,000,000 (prayuta); 10,000,000 (arbuda); 100,000,000 (nyarbuda); 1,000,000,000 (samudra); 10,000,000,000 (madhya); 100,000,000,000 (anta); 1,000,000,000,000 (parārdha). In the Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā³ the list is the same, but niyuta and prayuta exchange places, and after nyarbuda a new figure (badva) intervenes, thus increasing samudra to 10,000,000,000, and so on. The Taittirīya Saṃhitā has in two places⁴ exactly the same list as the Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā. The Maitrāyaṇī Saṃhitā⁵ has the list ayuta, prayuta, then ayuta again, arbuda, nyarbuda, samudra, madhya, anta, parārdha. The Pañcaviṃśa Brāhmaṇa⁶ has the Vājasaneyi list up to nyarbuda inclusive, then follow nikharvaka, badva, akṣita, and apparently go= 1,000,000,000,000. The Jaiminīya Upaniṣad Brāhmaṇa⁷ list replaces nikharvaka by nikharva, badva by padma, and ends with akṣitir vyomāntaḥ. The Śāṅkhāyana Śrauta Sūtra⁸ continues the series after nyarbuda with nikharvāda, samudra, salila, antya, ananta (= 10 billions). - [Previous: v1.c3.s18.101](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18.101) - [Next: v1.c3.s18.103](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18.103) - [Up: v1.c3.s18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18) ## Linked texts (7) - [Śāṅkhāyanaśrautasūtra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.vedanga.kalpa.srauta.sankhayana) — Śāṅkhāyana, Sanskrit - [Taittirīyasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.krsnayajur*taittiriya) — Sanskrit - [Jaiminīyopaniṣadbrāhmaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.brahmana.jaiminiya_upanisad) — Sanskrit - [Kāṭhakasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.krsnayajur*kathaka) — Sanskrit - [Maitrāyaṇīsaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.krsnayajur*maitrayani) — Sanskrit - [Pañcaviṃśabrāhmaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.brahmana.pancavimsa) — Sanskrit - [Vājasaneyisaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.suklayajur*vajasaneyi) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18.102](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s18.102) · Pramāṇa