The Shulbasutras of Baudhayana, Apastamba, Katyayana and Manava: With Text, English Translation and Commentary c8.t32: Chapters 4 and 5: Units of Measures and Weights, Bricks

The Śulbasūtras of Baudhāyana, Āpastamba, Kātyāyana and Mānava: With Text, English Translation and Commentary c8.t32

Language: English

Chapters 4 and 5: Units of Measures and Weights, Bricks

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**4.1-4.6.** The six rules provide a table of units of measure.

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**4.7-4.8.** Sizes of bricks and different layers are generally stated.

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Chapter 5 describes a method of measuring areas in a square *śyena* (*caturaśra-śyenacit*).

Two bamboo rods are taken, one measuring 120 *aṅg.* (one *puruṣa*) in length, the other 144 *aṅg.* In the second bamboo rod marks are given at a distance of 120 *aṅg.*, 132 *aṅg.* and 144 *aṅg.* from one end. Two middle marks are given in these two rods at a distance of 60 *aṅg.* from the same ends. Then a *pañcāṅgī* cord is formed in the following way (*vide* *Mśl* 13.15). A cord *AB* of length 2 *puruṣas* (240 *aṅg*) is taken and three marks are given, one at the middle of the cord *C* and one each at the middle of the two halves, i.e. at *D* and *E*. (Fig. 2). The cord is fixed by two poles at its eastern end *A* and the western end *B*; poles are likewise fixed at *C*, *D*, and *E*. The two bamboo rods are then stretched towards south from *D* and *E* respectively so as to meet at *F*, 120 *aṅg* from the end of each. The first bamboo rod is held over *CF* so as to obtain *G* at 120 *aṅg* from *C*. Now the second bamboo rod is stretched from pole *A* towards south and the first rod from *G* towards east so as to meet at *H*, 120 *aṅg* from the end of each rod. *H* is the south-eastern corner of the *ātmā*. Likewise, the north-eastern corner *I* and the two western corners *J* and *K* of the square body are fixed. The area of the body is thus 240² sq. *aṅg* or 4 sq. *pu*.

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Fig. 2. Construction of a *caturaśraśyenacit*.

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To construct the northern wing poles are fixed at *L* and *M*, the middle points of the two halves of the southern side *HK*. By stretching the two bamboo rods from *L* and *M* towards south the point *N* where they meet at a distance of 120 *aṅg* from the end is determined. The second bamboo rod is now held over *GN* and the point *O* 144 *aṅg* from *G* is obtained. Then by stretching the second rod from *L* and the first rod from *O* the point *P* is fixed and likewise the point *Q*, so that the rectangle *LPQM* constitutes the southern wing. Likewise the northern wing is formed. The area of each wing measures 120 × 144 sq. *aṅg* or 1⅕ sq. *pu* and that of two wings 2⅖ sq. *pu*.

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To obtain the tail, one has to proceed in the same manner as for the wing; but the mark with the second bamboo rod stretched from *B* westwards should be given at a distance of 132 *aṅg*. In other words, a rectangle 120 × 132 sq. *aṅg* or 1 1/10 sq. *pu* is to be formed.

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For the head a square 60 × 60 sq. *aṅg* (according to Śivadāsa, a rectangle of 60 × 75 sq. *aṅg*) is to be formed at the middle of the eastern side.

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In this construction, the body, the two wings and the tail (4 + 2⅖ + 1 1/10) account for 7½ sq. *pu*, with the head needing an additional area and thus deviating from the traditional area of a fire-altar of this type. We have seen that Baudhāyana did not provide his square *śyenacit* with a head and strictly restricted himself to the area of 7½ sq. *pu*.

Linked texts (1)

Mānavaśulbasūtra — Sanskrit