The Shulbasutras of Baudhayana, Apastamba, Katyayana and Manava: With Text, English Translation and Commentary c8.t17.3

c8.t17.3

**20.3-20.7.** *The construction of the fire-altar.* A square of side 10 *prakamas* or 300 *aṅg* is first constructed and the four corners are cut off by 30 *aṅg* (that is, an isosceles triangle of two equal sides, each 30 *aṅg* is removed from each corner. *A B C D E F G H* is the shape of the body thus obtained (Fig. 72). Note that AB = CD = EF = HG = 60√2 aṅg. and BC = DE = FG = AH = 180 aṅg. Four squares, each of side 30 *aṅg*. are placed side by side in contact with the middle of the eastern side of the body *AH*. Outer halves of the two side squares are diagonally cut off so as to get the figure *a b c d*. Note that *ab* equals 60 *aṅg*. Similar figures are constructed in the middle of the other three sides of the body *BC*, *DE* and *FG*.