[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932) › c18.68 # The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c18.68 The Science of the Śulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c18.68 - **Language:** English ### [c18.68](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c18.68) It may be noted that the commentator Mahīdhara is of no help to us about this knotty point of the enlargement of the Fire-altar. According to his interpretation of Kātyāyana's rules, the area of the Fire-altar after an increment of m square puruṣas will be 7½×(1+m/7) square puruṣas. This interpretation evidently assumes a proportional enlargement of all the constituent parts of the primitive Fire-altar and hence should be discarded as being directly against the express intention of the \*Sulba\*. Another objection against it will be that the area of the Fire-altar at the final construction (the ninety-fifth construction) according to it will be 7½×(1+94/7) or 108 3/14 square puruṣas and hence much in excess of the maximum enlarged area, \*viz.\*, 101½ square puruṣas, permissible under the \*Sulba\*. Weber¹ informs us that such a method of enlargement of the Fire-altar is found in the \*Paddhati\* of Yājñikadeva. Its origin seems to be in the \*Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa\*.² But it was criticised and challenged even then.³ I cannot give the opinion of the commentator Rāma on this point as the relevant portion of his commentary is not available to me at present. - [Previous: c18.67](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c18.67) - [Next: c18.69](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c18.69) - [Up: c18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c18) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c18.68](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c18.68) · Pramāṇa