The Shulbasutras of Baudhayana, Apastamba, Katyayana and Manava: With Text, English Translation and Commentary c7.313

c7.313

2.1 Now another method of construction (of a square). Poles are fixed at both ends and in the middle of the east-west line. A cord measuring half of the east-west line is taken and increased by its *viśeṣa* (the difference between its length and the diagonal of the square produced by it). After giving a mark at this point, the cord is (further) increased by half of the east-west line. Ties are made at both ends of the cord. Fixing the tie at the *saviśeṣa* end at the middle pole and the other tie at the eastern pole, the cord is stretched by the mark so as to obtain the south-eastern corner. By removing the tie from the eastern pole and fixing it to the western pole, the south-western corner is likewise obtained by (stretching the cord with) the mark. In the same way, the north-western and the north-eastern corners (are obtained).