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thousand nine hundred and sventy-seven, and divided by twelve hundred and fifty, the quotient is the near circumference: or multiplied by twenty-two and divided by seven, it is the gross circumference adapted to practice.”[1] (Colebrooke’s translation, page 87. See Ferzi’s Persian translation, p. 126, 127.)
The coincidence of d×6283220000 with d×39271250 is so striking, and the formula is at the same time so accurate, that it seems extremely improbable that the Arabs should by mere accident have discovered the same proportion as the Hindus: particularly if we bear in mind, that the Arabs themselves do not seem to have troubled themselves much about finding an exact method.[2]
- ↑ The Sanskrit original of this passage affords an instance of the figurative method of the Hindus of expressing numbers by the names of objects of which a certain number is known. the expressions for the units and the lower ranks of numbers always preceding those for the higher ones. भ (lunar mansion) stands for 27; नन्द (treasure of Kuvera) for 9; and अग्नि (sacred fire) for 3: therefore भनन्दानि = 3927, Again, ख (cypher) is 0; वाण (arrow of Kamadeva) stands for 5; सूर्य (the sun in the several months of the year), for 12: therefore खवाण सूर्य = 1250. For further examples, see As. Res. vol. x1. p. 281, ed. Cale. and the title-pages or conclusions of several of the Sanskrit works printed at Calcutta;—e. g. the Sutras of Panini and the Siddhantakaumudi.
- ↑ This would appear from the very manner in which our author introduces the several methods; but still more from the following marginal note of the manuscript to the present passage: وهو تقريب
