The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c8.90

c8.90

"With man's measure he metes out; man is commensurate with the sacrifice; verily he metes him with a member of the sacrifice; so great is he as a man with arms extended; so much strength is there in man; verily with strength he metes him. Winged is he, for wingless he could not fly; these wings are longer by an ell (*aratni*); therefore birds have strength by their wings. The wings and the tail are a fathom (*vyāma*) in breadth; so much is the strength in man, he is commensurate in strength. He metes with a bamboo;..."¹