History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v2.c17.s14.13

v2.c17.s14.13

We presume that the name *varga-prakṛti* originated from the following consideration: The principle (*prakṛti*) underlying the calculations in this branch of mathematics is to determine a number (or numbers) whose nature (*prakṛti*) is such that its (or their) square (or squares, *varga*) or the simple number (or numbers) after certain specified operations will yield another number (or numbers) of the nature of a square. So the name is, indeed, very significant. This interpretation seems to have been intended, at any rate, by the earlier writers who used the term in a wider sense.⁴ It is perhaps noteworthy that we do not find in the works of Brahmagupta the use of the word *prakṛti* either in the sense of N or of x².