The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c21.s2.42

c21.s2.42

“Now in this Prajāpati, the year, there are 720 days and nights, his lights, (being) those bricks; 360 enclosing stones, and 360 bricks with (special) formulas. This Prajāpati, the year, has created all existing things, both what breathes and the breathless, both gods and men. Having created all existing things, he felt like one emptied out, and was afraid of death. He bethought himself, ‘How can I get these beings back into my body? how can I put them back into my body? how can I be again the body of all these beings?’ He divided his body into two; there were 360 bricks in the one, and as many in the other: he did not succeed. He made himself three bodies,—in each of them there were 3 × 80 of bricks: he did not succeed. He made himself four bodies of 180 bricks each: he did not succeed. He made himself five bodies,—in each of them there were 144 bricks: he did not succeed. He made himself six bodies of 120 bricks each: he did not succeed. He did not develop himself sevenfold.¹ He made himself 8 bodies of 90 bricks each: he did not succeed. He made himself 9 bodies of 80 bricks each: he did not succeed. He made himself 10 bodies of 72 bricks each: he did not succeed. He did not develop elevenfold. He made himself 12 bodies of 60 bricks each: he did not succeed. He did not develop either thirteenfold or fourteenfold. He made himself 15 bodies of 48 bricks each: he did not succeed. He made himself 16 bodies of 45 bricks each: he did not succeed. He did not develop seventeenfold. He made himself 18 bodies of 40 bricks each: he did not succeed. He did not develop nineteenfold.