The Shulbasutras of Baudhayana, Apastamba, Katyayana and Manava: With Text, English Translation and Commentary c8.t12.2

c8.t12.2

**14.2.** *Measurement of the fire-altar and the types of bricks.* The area of the fire-altar should be 7½ sq. *pu.* Under rule 2.7, Baudhāyana has shown that an isosceles triangle of 7½ sq. *pu.* can be drawn from a square of double this area, that is, 15 sq. *pu.*, by joining the mid-point E of the eastern side AD with two western corner points B and C (Fig. 52). The base BC and each side EB, EC are given by $BC &= √15 pu. / &= 120 √15 ang. / &= 464.76 or 464¾ ang. approx. / EB = EC &= 300 √3 ang. = 519.6 or 519½ ang.$ D. therefore explains that a square with 464¾ ang. (= 465 - ¼ ang) is to be first drawn and the required isosceles triangle constructed, as already stated, in the following terms : *tasyā dvikaraṇī pādonapañcaṣaṣṭicatuḥśatāṅgulā* (464¾ ang) *dvistāvatyāścaturaśrakṛtāyāḥ pañcadaśapuruṣāyā bhūmeḥ karaṇī | evaṁ caturaśrikṛtāyāḥ pūrvasyāḥ karaṇyā madhyācchroṇī pratyālikhet | tatra karṇarūpayoḥ pramāṇamardhonaviṁśatipañcaśatāṅgulayaḥ* (519½ ang.) *| tasya praugasyāparasyāḥ karaṇyāḥ pādonapañcaṣaṣṭicatuḥśatāṅgulāyā...... |*