The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c8.106

c8.106

"He contracts the inner extremity (of the southern wing) inside on both sides only by four aṅgulis; by four aṅgulis outwards on both sides he expands the outer extremity. Thus by as much he contracts, by so much he expands; certainly, for that, he neither exceeds (the proper size of the wing), nor makes it too small. Similarly, he does for the tail; and in the same way, for the northern wing. Then he makes the bent of the two wings. For bents there are in the wings of a bird; the bents of the wings of a bird are by its one-third each; by one-third of the wings inwards each the bents of the wings of the bird are. He expands (each of the wings) on the front just by four aṅgulis; he contracts at the back by four aṅgulis. Thus by as much he expands by so much he contracts; and so he neither exceeds, nor makes it too small."