The Shulbasutras of Baudhayana, Apastamba, Katyayana and Manava: With Text, English Translation and Commentary c8.t16.11

c8.t16.11

The arrangement of bricks in the second layer is shown in Fig. 71. 3B₁s and 3 B₂s are placed in each of the two half-isosceles parts of the fire-altar. 8 B₄s are placed on the eastern and the western parts each of the rectangular part of the fire-altar, with the longer side turned north-south. (Note that 2p/¼p = 8). These two rows use up ⅓p and the remaining vertical distance is (6p - p/3) = 17p/2. The remaining space in the rectangular part of the fire-altar can be divided into 17 horizontal and 8 vertical rows in which 136 B₃ bricks can be fitted with their longer sides turned east. Thus, the number of bricks used in this way totals as follows : $B₁ - 6 ; B₂ - 6 ; B₃ - 136 ; B₄ - 16 ; total - 164.$ There is still a deficit of 36 bricks. According to the commentator, the deficit can be met by replacing 36 B₃ bricks (9 from each of the 4 corners) by 72 B₄s. Dvārakānātha says : *pārśvayorupahitapraugārdhayordvādaśeṣṭakāḥ | madhyabhūtacaturasra (pūrvā) parāntayoḥ ṣoḍaśārdheṣṭakāḥ | madhye ṣaṭtriṁśaccataṁ bṛhatyaḥ prāgāyatāḥ | evaṁ catuḥṣaṣṭi śatamiṣṭakāḥ | ṣaṭtriṁśannyūnā bhavanti | śroṇyaṁseṣu nava nava bṛhatīścaturasrākṛtā uddhṛtyāṣṭādaśāṣṭādaśārdhyā nidheyāḥ | evaṁ dviśataḥ prastāraḥ |*