History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c8.s6.5

v1.c8.s6.5

How the word *varga* came to be used in that sense has been clearly indicated by Thibaut. He says: "The origin of the term is clearly to be sought for in the graphical representation of a square, which was divided in as many *vargas* or troops of small squares, as the side contained units of some measure. So the square drawn with a side of five *padas* length could be divided into five small *vargas* each containing five small squares, the side of which was one *pada* long."³ This explanation of the origin of the term *varga* is confirmed by certain passages in the *Śulba* works.⁴