Text 11] Calculation of Time, from the Atom 415

probe weighing four masa and measuring four fingers long. When the pot
is placed on water, the time before the water overflows in the pot is called
one danda.

PURPORT

It is advised herein that the bore in the copper measuring pot must be
made with a probe weighing not more than four masa and measuring not
longer than four fingers. This regulates the diameter of the hole. The pot
is submerged in water, and the overflooding time is called a danda. This is
another way of measuring the duration of a danda, just as time is measured
by sand in a glass. It appears that in the days of Vedic civilization there
was no dearth of knowledge in physics, chemistry or higher mathematics.
Measurements were calculated in different ways, as simply as could be
done.

TEXT 10

UMNAARAAR Ala Ta |
TE: THAME AH: HNY AAT |NLoll

yamas catvaras catvaro
martyanam ahani ubhe

paksah pafica-dasahani
Suklah krsnas ca manada

yamah—three hours; catvarah—four; catvarah—and four; martyanam—
of the human beings; ahani— duration of day; ubhe—both day and night;
paksah—fortnight; paiica-dasa—fifteen;ahani— days; suklah—white;krsnah—
black; ca—also; manada— measured.

TRANSLATION

It is calculated that there are four praharas, which are also called yamas,
in the day and four in the night of the human being. Similarly, fifteen
days and nights are a fortnight, and there are two fortnights, white and
black, in a month.

TEXT 11

TH: TET ma equi aera |
a areq: Tere afta tee AT UIRRI
