The Shulbasutras of Baudhayana, Apastamba, Katyayana and Manava: With Text, English Translation and Commentary c8.t39: Chapter 14: Vakrapakṣa Śyena, Kaṅka and Alaja
The Śulbasūtras of Baudhāyana, Āpastamba, Kātyāyana and Mānava: With Text, English Translation and Commentary c8.t39
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- English
Chapter 14: Vakrapakṣa Śyena, Kaṅka and Alaja
c8.t39.2
**14.1-14.6.** *Parts of the body in śyena, alaja and kaṅka.* Measured with a square brick of size one-fourth of a *puruṣa*, the different parts of a *śyena, alaja* and *kaṅka* fire-altar comprise areas shown in Table 1.
c8.t39.3
Table 1. *Areas of different parts of śyena, alaja, and kaṅka fire-altar.*
c8.t39.4
| | wings | head | *ātman* | tail | feet | Total |
| *śyena* | 75 | 4 | 26 | 15 | — | 120 |
| *alaja* | 75 | 2 | 26 | 17 | — | 120 |
| *kaṅka* | 75 | 7 | 26 | 8 | 4 | 120 |
c8.t39.5
The area of each fire-altar is given correctly as 120 × 1/16 or 7½ sq. pu.
c8.t39.6
**14.7-14.20.** *Layout of vakrapakṣaśyena.* For measuring *vakrapakṣaśyena* of 7½ sq. *pu.* a cord with 12 parts has been used; each part is equal to 30 *aṅgulas*. The alternative of 12½ parts does not agree with remaining directions. A rough sketch of both parts and brick structures are given by Gelder, which do not agree with the textual description. Four types of bricks are used for this purpose. They are square (40 *aṅg.* × 40 *aṅg.*), triangular (30 *aṅg.* × 30 *aṅg.*, 30 √2 *aṅg.*), triangular half (30 *aṅg.*, 15 √2 *aṅg*, 15 √2 *aṅg.*) and five-cornered bricks. There is no mention that the layer is to be covered with 200 bricks.