The Shulbasutras of Baudhayana, Apastamba, Katyayana and Manava: With Text, English Translation and Commentary c7.9

c7.9

Now another (method). Ties are made at both ends of a cord of length equal to the measure increased by its half (so that the whole length of the cord is divided into three parts of half the measure each). In the third (extended) part on the western side a mark is given at a point shorter by one-sixth (of the third part) ; this is the *nyañcana*. Another mark is made at the desired point for fixing the corners. With the two ties fastened to the two ends of the east-west line (*pṛṣṭhyā*), the cord is stretched towards the south by the *nyañcana*, and the western and eastern corners (of the square) are fixed by the desired mark.