• Comprehending •

Do not be very upright in your dealings, as you would see in forest, the straight trees are cut down while the crooked ones are left standing

Acharya Chanakya

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Backdrop:

Keśava expressed his thoughts to Indraneel but not revealing much about his feelings. Maintaining the privacy for both of them. He ask Abhīstāda about taking her to Vijnānaṁ Vidyāpeeth, and she expressed her feelings ot him.

Characters:

Abhīstāda: Crowned Princess of Rāthnānathi
Keśava: Crowned Prince of Smaranāgarh

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[For explanation look at the end, have tried to explain]

Keśava was adorned in the yellow robes brought by the keeper, the string of pearls was tied around his necks, and around his chest, the pink cloth was wrapped enhancing his shoulder. In all of these was his tilak gleaming on his forehead reflecting his splendid valour. He stared at himself in the copper mirror and saw the hazy allure of his. Even the mirror wasn't able to perceive his charm.

He brushed through its hard surface as he caressed his attributes through it. He noticed his long eyelashes that twinkled as he brought them near his eyes and felt its softness. They usually protected eyes from extraneous turbulence and occasionally with internal disturbance. When the eyes shone with tears they were the first ones to assimilate the pain, when they got doused they still touched with love. Now in the calmness of peace, they rested peacefully. 

He had heard all of them talking about his beauty, did they only see the outer self. Or do they even notice the scars? Well, they were seen as an accomplishment, confiding his skills. But to him did they tell the similar significance? Maybe to him these scars also reminded him of what he has acquired. Yet, he understood what beauty meant.

It was different for everyone, for him were her lips that would utter the precious words. The words that weren't easy to infer, he knew they held myriad meanings. Yet, he liked to solve those puzzles, anything that was effortless hasn't kept him for long. Those phrases that would linger in his mind for long, he found them attractive.

His tender hands, replenished with the roughness of injury caressed his soft curls and on them, he wore his crown. The person who seemed too young was now wielding the responsibility of the whole kingdom. Even the knock on his gate was implying about the same. That alteration had started from at the gate by the strike numerous days back. Today he was going to Vijnānaṁ Vidyāpeeth and for that, he solicited Indraneel to deliver his message to Abhīstāda.

He loitered for a few moments but didn't glimpse Indraneel appearing so he got on to check and there he saw her. Unlike him dressed in the royal robes, contrary to him; she was clad in the soft silk saree in front of him. She greeted him and then he asked the keeper to bring the valuable appliances that were to be carried.

The palanquin was arranged from where she entered the enormous learning centre. Followed by the army of Smaraṇāgarh and the chariot of Keśava. They were still to reach its arrival, nevertheless, it was so massive she could already glimpse at it. The structure appeared to be simple but it wasn't, it was styled into eight of the sections. Each representing its area of discipline, in between, was a large Shankha, which she could see. However the outer part was smaller and as they approached nears, the structure kept on enhancing.

Her eyes observed every element of the structure, her sight even tallying the trees in the surrounding. She was so mesmerized that she didn't even pay heed that they had already reached there. Her palanquin was put down where they waited for Keśava. He was seated in his chariot, and as she saw him her lips sauntered and her eyes peeking at him and he at her.

For a moment she felt as if he could remember everything but he preferred to stay quiet. The more she gazed, the more his eyes thawed. The intensity of gaze made the tear form in their eyes as it shunned in the sunlight. It was when the chariot came to halt, their eyes unlocked and he got out of there. 

She was stopped by the keeper and she peeped at the Keśava bewilder.

"They would ask a question, you need to answer it. Only one question and one answer and then only you can enter. Let's see how well you can put your opinions in litigation and answer them. Only then do you deserve the entry. Even here I can't help."

Her heartbeat became erratic. She was questioned many times by the rishika and my life, she had tried to retort every time but every time she did wield the title of royalty. This time she was a commoner and even her mistake carried a different meaning. With a precarious breath, she nodded.

The keeper fastened the arrow of question. In war, she had answers to every technique but could she answer this one? 

"It is complete in full sense but still dwells in material creation. Its outer gets burned with fire, yet it remains untouched. Just like Lakshmi, it never stays at one place, can never be held at one place here, if so do try?"

She silently listened to his question and then with her joined she countered with her arrow to the attack of the question. "Its soul. Its consciousness still dwells here. The body gets burned with fire but it's untouched. Just like Lakshmi it keeps altering, and can never be held by anyone. If so, do now?"

He was impressed by her answer and permitted to enter now it was Keśava's turn. She didn't expect him to be questioned, he also greeted and answered different questions. When he came toward her she asked. "How come you are also questioned?"

"For guru, every student is the same, whether the son of king or son of a farmer. When maa Sarasvati doesn't discriminate in giving vidya to anyone. How could they? This exam is a way to make them realise that to her we are equally and a step to make aware when the thoughts are compiled and senses are used, it's when you can gain knowledge. Now come, let's meet Acharya."

There she noticed him heading toward the eastern section. 

"They are acharya of Jyotirvid." He made her aware of it before entering. They went inside and touched his feet as they both greeted him and he talked to Keśava about the general matters and Keśava asked his guidance on managing the accounts. Later he is told about Abhīstāda's and her curiosity to discover Smaraṇāgarh and learn from here. He then asked her to put forward any questions, to be aware of the validities.

She asked about it. "What's the shape of Pṛthvī?

"What's the shape of Pṛthvī?" He murmured to himself before answering. "Here, where we reside, where the rivers from mountains come, where the trees thrive and nourish, all of them reside in bhūgolah. If it was Varāha Deva he would hold it in its tusk-like a ball. So the shape in which the Prithvi is; golah."

She heard his words patiently but as he was finished with his sentence she wondered about the size. If VārhaDeva could hold it, what was the significance of it? "How large would it be, as days consume night and night consumes day?

'The diameter of the Earth is 1,050 yojanas. Here the yojana is about 8,000 times the nár*. That's the Earth which never is stationary"

She seemed perplexed. "Arthart?

"As one in the boat going forward sees the object moving backwards. Similarly, the unmoving stars appear to be moving when in reality it's we in bhūgolah who are moving. The reason for such a surge and setting is due to cosmic winds**."

She learned something new to wonder upon it. Now she could imagine the bhūgolah in which we reside. An apparent and ambiguous image was formed in her head. She discerned every detail in his words and perceived by these thoughts they moved toward the acharya of Gaṇita.

Both of them touched his feet, greeting the divine in him and receiving the infinite knowledge of him in the form of blessings. As they sat on the ground near him, Abhīstāda's eyes were focused on the two words. The three words that were woven on the archaic pages of the leaves. The three words raised thousands of queries in her mind.

Acharya noticed and asked her to question. She hastily asked him about it. "What is Varga, Avarga and ghana. How are they used?"

"A square, the area of a square, and the product of two equal quantities are called Varga. The product of three equal quantities and a solid which has twelve edges are called ghana. Counting from right to left, the odd places are called Varga and the even places are called avarga¹."

He explained to her in thorough words, she tried to grasp what she could but even some of it was away from her clasp and then he exhibited her some of the calculations. The physical illustration was better than listening to it. A better way to gain knowledge.

She then asked him about the sequence of the number and the value of the number preceding it. He answered her doubt with utter confidence. "Sthānāt sthānaṁ daśagunaṁ syāt.² The numbers eka, daśa, sata, sahasra, ayuta, niyuta, prayuta, kofi, arbuda, and trnda³ are from place to place each ten times the preceding⁴."

She had heard him telling about numbers, numbers that are desired in the sequence, particular sequence. She asked him to even explain about it.

"The desired number of terms minus one, halved, plus the number of terms which precedes, multiplied by the common difference between the terms, plus the first term, is the middle term. This multiplied by the number of terms desired is the sum of the desired number of terms. Or the sum of the first and last terms is multiplied by half the number of terms.⁵"

She inquired about the few questions about which she yearned to know, and about some others about which she was unknown. Here, she couldn't stop herself from inquiring and the much appreciated were their efforts. With ease, they had cleared her doubts. Before going she paid her reverence to him and expressed her gratitude. It was an honour to learn from all of them.

Keśava for a second observed her and saw her subtle in her ideas. Her mind was still brandished by those various topics that she had learned. He was approached by his attendant who wanted to ask something.

She was so lost that she didn't even glance at it. Here he was only accompanied by a few people, even Indraneel was left back home to take care of state matters. He moved forward and she pursued him. He turned and she turned and he just chuckled of her unawareness nevertheless he guided her to the correct place.

Acharya Vishvaksena was known for his beautiful Kāvya. Not only they were pleasing in sounds but have a profound meaning in them. As if the roots of his words have grasped the heart and find, like a plant grips the soil and with time the grip over it increases. Similarly, the intensity of words of his words increase.

He explained to them about the work of Acharya Pingala, detailing them about his work. "Acharya Pingala has his way of writing, his writing itself is mysterious in its ways. His sutras have deals with metres of rhymes providing the melodious tune to the Hymns⁶."

She has read many of the works, however, the details in them were also unknown to her. She wanted to know about it so she asked. "What is this metre?"

"The basic of rhythmic structure is Metre, these have a finite sequence of syllables, some short and some long." He then explained him with an example. "Like in Anuṣṭubh, where the śloka can be in a pathyā form or one of several vipulā forms."

She heard his words and learned from him the details and even tried to form these sequences. Her eyes were restored with all of the affection, of an understanding enigma. Something that was like the room of darkness and it seemed nothing was beyond, however it was light up with the knowledge and she could see clearly.

While she was thinking Acharya spoke. "Keśava has one of best command over these words and rhymes haven't you heard his's"

She looked at him for the first time since they had attended the lessons. She then turned her stare away from him and took the leave from there.

Her words were waiting to make their way out, nevertheless, they weren't allowed as he stopped. Interrupted her from asking anything. Here he was a student and commoner and whatever she wanted to ask should be asked out, as the way she wanted.

This was one of their last visits here. This section was on the west side of the structure. Rishika was known for noticing the detail of every matter, the master of the anu. They both greeted and touch her divine feet.

Her first question was also about the anu. "What was it? And what does it signify?"

"Anu is that indestructible particle of matter that can't be destroyed further and holds one of its own identity. As soon as they come into being they disappeared and can't be seen by our eyes."

"Could their state be changed or transformed into various forms?"

She elucidated her doubts beautifully. "Yes! The change seen is in the case of the fruit, every particle of its form into characteristics. Just like the mud is combined under the heat of the fire to form into an earthen pot changes its features. These changes are bought by the external changes or may internal but with the influence of the chemicals. Acharya Kanada has discussed them in detail."

Her question has now been answered, as the river gets dissolved into the ocean her qualms have met similar integrity. Now she was alone looking around as Keśava had gone to deal with his duties and provide grants; monetary and land to expand the area.

After he was done he moved towards the place. Keśava noticed the exhausted army and the attendant so he asked to stop for the rest. Since there was a lake nearby, everyone went to quench their thirst. Keśava and Abhīstāda were left alone.

He freed the horse from the chariot and made them ameliorate. With tenderness, he rubbed his fur and made them sit in the shade, after which he slowly walked toward Abhīstāda.

Apart from the disarray inside he was the calmness of harmony that came off. He hadn't confessed anything but just calmly peeped not at her. He stood near her and looked at whatever she glimpsed, sensing the proximity she implored. "Yuvrāj... you never said that you write?"

He stayed still, now gazing at her. And then after a junction he remembered her words. "Ākhyāyikā," he ceased and let her be aware of the term. "I am known to write Ākhyāyikā. Many have heard about it but I am not aware if they cherish my work or are afraid to admit the awful aspects. The verses that are inscribed are from hearts to the people; I admire."

"Admire?" She whispered softly and then shied away as the horse near them shrieked.

The way surrounding was dissipating its tiniest sound in the heightening effort as if trying to observe every detail and hear both of them. She also heard the faint noises, the gossiping tone of the people.

He was conscious of them looking at him, and despite it he uttered. "And I shared them; with my dearest. If you agree, I have a few verses to share, and to confide a tale which I can't. When you can't find a way, the favorable are the words. These words have their aura, a stranger may take time to convey the fondness but these words reach where we can't."

He added. "To you; I have few words to say. Maybe to express something that heart has desired...

"...Today this fabric wrapped around you, expresses your simplicity and serenity which I have always admired.  You have captured the whole of the essence of my heart; as you appear to be epitome of love and knowledge."

Sources -

Sūrya Siddhānta, Āryabhaṭīyaṃ, other works of Āryabhaṭa, works of Acharya piṅgala with emphasis on Chandaḥśāstra, Aṣṭādhyāyī by Pāṇini, Vaiśeṣika Sūtra by Kaṇāda later commentary of Bhāskara to understand the calculations.

[Bhāskara work is date to latter period in comparison to dating peroid of the story but only commentary on Āryabhaṭa has been used to get better equipped with the topics.]

Still I am not sure if I could express it correctly in words so if you find any problem, please do tell me. Since most of the text used the terms of mathematics in sanskrit, I tried to learn whatever I could. It did took efforts to go through text learn and then write. Most of the ślokha have the same translation so the meaning isn't lost but, I have tried to explain many of them in easiest form.

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*
This is a calculation by Āryabhaṭa telling about the circumference of the earth.

A yojana is equal to 800 times a height nár(man)

Earth's diameter is about 1,050 yojanas, which is seen as 3,300 yojanas as the equatorial circumference according to pi value given by Aryabhatta which is 3.1416. The circumference according to this is 39,968km and the present value is about 40,075 km.

**
These are extract from Aryabhatiyam telling that earth is like a circle, like ball and revlove around the sun

¹
These tells about the area of superficial objects

²
Sthānāt sthānaṁ daśagunaṁ syāt means from place to place each is ten times the preceding

³
Eka: one
Daśa: ten
Sata: hundred
Sahasra: thousand
Ayuta: ten thousand
Niyuta: hundred thousand
Prayuta: million
Kofi: ten million
Arbuda: hundred million
Trnda: thousand million

⁴
This tell us about the presence of decimal system.

⁵
This give us a view about arithmetic progression. Here you can assume n be the number of terms extending from the (p+1)th to the (p+n)th terms in an arithmetical progression, let d be the common difference between the terms, let a be the first term of the progression, and I the last term.

⁶
This paragraph discuss about the Chandaḥśāstra by Acharya Pingala telling about the poetic metrics and rhymes in sanskrit.

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Shankha: Conch Shell

Rishika: Saintly Women

Lakshmi: Goddess of fortune, but it was used for the money

Guru: A spiritual leader or teacher

Saraswati: Goddess of Knowledge

Vidya: Knowledge

Acharya: A spiritual teacher or leader.

Jyotirvid: An astronomer or astrologer

VārhaDeva: Avtār of Vishnu

Arthart: Meaning

Prīthvi: Earth

Gaṇita: Mathematicians

Anuṣṭubh: A meter and a metrical unit, found in both Vedic and Clasical sanskrit poetry.

Ākhyāyikā: A species of prose composition, a connected story or narrative.

Yuvraj: Crowned Prince.

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Hush! It was a lengthy chapter. How have you all been?

Please do drop your feedback. Much appreciated effort.

Thank you reading.
( ꈍᴗꈍ)