History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v2.c17.s14.7

v2.c17.s14.7

**Origin of the Name.** As regards the origin of the name *varga-prakṛti*, Kṛṣṇa (1580) says: "That in which the *varga* (square) is the *prakṛti* (nature) is called the *varga-prakṛti*; for the square of *yâvat*, etc., is the *prakṛti* (origin) of this (branch of) mathematics. Or, because this (branch of) mathematics has originated from the number which is the *prakṛti* of the square of *yâvat*, etc., so it is called the *varga-prakṛti*. In this case the number which is the multiplier of the square of *yâvat*, etc., is denoted by the term *prakṛti*. (In other words) it is the coefficient of the square of the unknown."∗2 This double interpretation has been evidently suggested by the use of the term *prakṛti* by Bhâskara II in two contexts. He has denoted by it sometimes the quantity N of the above equation as in "There the number which is (associated) with the square of the unknown is the *prakṛti*; "∗3 and at other times x², as in "Supposing the square of one of the two unknowns to be the *prakṛti*."∗4 Other Hindu algebraists have, however, consistently employed the term *prakṛti* to denote N only.¹ Brahmagupta (628) uses the term *guṇaka* (multiplier) for the same purpose.² This latter term, together with its variation *guṇa*, appears occasionally also in later works.³