The Shulbasutras of Baudhayana, Apastamba, Katyayana and Manava: With Text, English Translation and Commentary c8.t27.17

c8.t27.17

**16.2-16.10.** *Types of Bricks.* Nine types of bricks have been used in covering the alternate layers of this fire-altar. These are : B₁ — the first type,—a parallelogram *abcd*, of which ab = cd = 24 *aṅg.* and ad = bc = 20 *aṅg.* (Fig. 16). The sides are parallel to those of the parallelogram *ABEF* or *CDEF*, so that this type can fit in the wings. Sundararāja gives the values of the longer diagonal *ac* as 35 *aṅg.* 20 *ti* and of *bd* as 26 *aṅg.* 6 *ti*. He also gives the breadth *ed* between the longer sides as 19 *aṅg.* 2 *ti*, which is 1/12 of 228¼ *aṅg.* (the length of the wing). B₂ — the second type, obtained by joining 2 B₁s along the longer side such that the brick is bent at the middle (*madhye nirṇatā ekapārśve unnatā*—Karavinda) and suitable for use in the wing at the bending (17.5). B₃ — the third type, obtained by joining the parallelogram *abcd* (B₁) with the rectangle *aefb* along *ab*; ae = 15 *aṅg.* This is so designed that it can be used at the junction between the wing and the body, *abcd* lying within the wing and *aefb* in the body (17.5). B₄ — the fourth type, obtained by first making the square *abcd* of side equal to 30 *aṅg.* extending it by half *defc*, and then cutting off the square by the diagonal *bd*; *defbd* is the brick, used in several places. de = 15 *aṅg.*, bf = 45 *aṅg.* ; and bd = 30√2 *aṅg.* B₅ — the fifth type is a rectangle, 30 *aṅg.* by 15 *aṅg.*; *caturbhāgīyārdha*. B₆ — the sixth type is derived from B₅ by dividing it diagonally. B₇ — the seventh type, *gbfdg*, is made by constructing three equal rectangles, so that ad = de = ag = 12 *aṅg.* and ab = ef = gh = 24 *aṅg.* and cutting the outer rectangles by the diagonals *df* and *gb*. The direction of the diagonal is determined by *dakṣiṇāvarayoḥ koṭyorālikhet*. B₈ — the eighth type *ahfda*, is done in the same way as the seventh, with the difference that the northern rectangle is cut off by *ah*, as determined by *uttarāṃ tūttarasyāḥ kotyā* etc. B₉ — the ninth type, an isosceles triangle of base 30 *aṅg.* and side 30 √2 *aṅg*, is obtained by dividing the square *abcd* (ab = 30 *aṅg.*) diagonally.