The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c12.37

c12.37

¹ It may be noted that Thibaut has discarded on a different occasion certain arithmetical interpretation of a rule of Baudhāyana by Dvārakanātha Yajvā with the remark, "The commentary instead of showing how the desired end could be attained by making use of the geometrical constructions taught in the paribhashā sūtras, employs arithmetical calculation; but this was of course not the method of the sūtrakāra." (*Paṇḍit* O. S., X, p. 73.) Similarly Bürk remarks about certain explanation of the commentator Sundararāja: "This explanation of *jñeya* is incorrect...because the Śulbasūtra deals with geometrical construction, and not with 'numerical calculation.' In commenting *jñeyā* from the standpoint of arithmetic, the commentator falls into a similar error as disclosed by Thibaut in another case (*JASB*, XLIV, 272)." (*ZDMG*, LVI, p. 329.)