Verse 8.133

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

त्रसरेणवोऽष्टौ विज्ञेया लिक्षैका परिमाणतः ।
ता राजसर्षपस्तिस्रस्ते त्रयो गौरसर्षपः ॥ १३३ ॥

trasareṇavo'ṣṭau vijñeyā likṣaikā parimāṇataḥ |
tā rājasarṣapastisraste trayo gaurasarṣapaḥ || 133 ||

Eight Triads should be known as one ‘Louse-egg’ in measure; three of these as one ‘Black Mustard’; and three of these latter as a ‘White Mustard.’—(133)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The gradually ascending measures are now described.

The term ‘likṣā,’ ‘louse’ does not stand for the sweat-born insect, when it is said that ‘three Louse-eggs make one Black Mustard’; what is meant is that the three of the measures known as the ‘Louse-egg’ make one of that particular measure which is known as ‘Black Mustard.’ This meets those objectors who argue that the ‘barley-grain,’ etc., that we see are not found to be exactly of the same size as those described here. Because the measure here described is not of the barley and other grains; what is meant is that these terms constitute the names of those particular measures. The subject has been introduced also with the words—‘I am going to describe the measures.’

The ‘Triad’ is an object whose measure is fixed; and through this Triad all the other measures are to be determined. Clever men are capable of forming compounds of ‘Triads’; so that the text has not put forward anything impossible or unknown. What is here described becomes clear by referring to the opinions and ideas current among goldsmiths. In fact the details of the subject can be ascertained only by referring to them.—(133)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vivādaratnākara (p. 666);—in Parāśaramādhava (Vyavahāra, p. 115);—in Hemādri (Vrata, p. 53);—and in Nṛsiṃhaprasāda (Dāna 4a).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 8.131-137)

See Comparative notes for Verse 8.131.