Sutra 5

Devanagari script

ता अष्टौ यवमध्यः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.०५ ॥

Transliteration

tā aṣṭau yavamadhyaḥ

Translation

Eight of those make one yava-madhya (the middle-sized barley grain measure).

Word by Word

• ताः: those (items/measures)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: सर्वनाम-शब्दः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन (निर्देशार्थे)

• अष्टौ: eight
• Type: Numeral
• Root: अष्टन्
• Form: संख्यावाचक; पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन (गणनार्थे)

• यवमध्यः: (make) one ‘yava-madhya’ (barleycorn unit) [i.e., eight of those make one barleycorn-standard unit]
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव + मध्य
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; समासः—यवस्य मध्यः (यवमध्यः)

Entities Mentioned

• yava (barley)
• yavamadhya

More Details

FAQs

Why use barley grains as a reference in measurement systems?

They provide a widely available physical reference that helps local officials and traders approximate standards when verifying tools and measures.