Sutra 11

Devanagari script

षडङ्गुलादूर्ध्वमष्टाङ्गुलोत्तरा दश तुलाः कारयेत् लोहपलादूर्ध्वमेकपलोत्तराः यन्त्रमुभयतःशिक्यं वा ॥ कZ_०२.१९.११ ॥

Transliteration

ṣaḍaṅgulādūrdhvamaṣṭāṅgulottarā daśa tulāḥ kārayet lohapalādūrdhvamekapalottarāḥ yantramubhayataḥśikyaṃ vā

Translation

He should have ten balance-beams (tulā) made, increasing in length above six aṅgulas by increments of eight aṅgulas; and (corresponding) iron-weight sets increasing above one pala by increments of one pala; or else a weighing device with suspension from both sides.

Word by Word

• षडङ्गुलात्: from (a measure of) six aṅgulas
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुल
• Form: पुं/नपुं; पञ्चमी-एकवचन; अपादान/अधिकरणार्थे ‘-त्’ (ablative)

• ऊर्ध्वम्: upwards; above; beyond
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व
• Form: अव्यय; दिशार्थ/परिमाण-सीमा

• अष्टाङ्गुलोत्तराः: having an addition of eight aṅgulas (i.e., eight aṅgulas more)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन; ‘तुलाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• दश: ten
• Type: Numeral
• Root: दशन्
• Form: संख्यावाचक; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; ‘तुलाः’ इत्यस्य संख्या

• तुलाः: balances; weighing-scales
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुला
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-बहुवचन; कर्म (कारयेत्)

• कारयेत्: should cause to be made; should have made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (कारयति)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (आज्ञार्थ/विध्यर्थ); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष-एकवचन; णिच् (causative)

• लोहपलात्: from an iron pala (weight)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोहपल
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुं; पञ्चमी-एकवचन; अपादानार्थे

• ऊर्ध्वम्: above; beyond
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण-सीमा

• एकपलोत्तराः: having an addition of one pala (i.e., one pala more)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन; ‘(तुलाः)’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (अनुवृत्तिः)

• यन्त्रम्: a device; an apparatus (here, weighing mechanism)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्त्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; कर्म (कारयेत्)

• उभयतः: on both sides
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उभयतः
• Form: अव्यय; दिशार्थ—‘on both sides’

• शिक्यम्: a hanging sling/pan (suspended receptacle)
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: शिक्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘यन्त्रम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्/समनाधिकरणम्

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक

Entities Mentioned

• state workshop
• weights-and-measures superintendent (implied)
• inspectors (implied)

More Details

FAQs

Why prescribe multiple balances rather than one universal scale?

Different load ranges require different beam lengths and counterweights; standardized sets improve accuracy and reduce scope for dispute.