History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c7.s4.3

v1.c7.s4.3

In the *Yajurveda Saṃhitā* (*Vājasaneyī*)² the following list of numeral denominations is given: *Eka* (1), *daśa* (10), *śata* (100), *sahasra* (1000), *ayuta* (10,000), *niyuta* (100,000), *prayuta* (1,000,000), *arbuda* (10,000,000), *nyarbuda* (100,000,000), *samudra* (1,000,000,000), *madhya* (10,000,000,000), *anta* (100,000,000,000), *parārdha* (1,000,000,000,000). The same list occurs at two places in the *Taittirīya Saṃhitā*.³ The *Maitrāyaṇī*⁴ and *Kâṭhaka*¹ *Saṁhitâs* contain the same list with slight alterations. The *Pañcaviṁśa Brâhmaṇa* has the *Yajurveda* list upto *nyarbuda* inclusive, and then follow *nikharva*, *vâḍava*, *akṣiti*, etc. The *Śâṅkhyâyana Śrauta Sûtra* continues the series after *nyarbuda* with *nikharva*, *samudra*, *salila*, *antya*, *ananta* (= 10 billions). Each of these denominations is 10 times the preceding, so that they were aptly called *daśaguṇottara saṁjñâ*² ("decuple terms").