1 *83 7 .] « Sanskrit translation of Euclid's Elements. 941 



to know that either of these princes were themselves in any degree 

 advanced heyond that state of semibarbarism which then and still dis- 

 tinguishes all tribes of Rajputs. 



Translation of the Preface. 

 Salutation to Ganesha ; salutation to Lakshmi' and Nrisinha. Upon 

 Gane8HA, who is worshipped by the gods, and fulfils all the prayers of men; 

 who is adorned with all power, and who removes all difficulties, I devoutly 

 call. 



2. I humbly prostrate myself at the lotus feet of Lakshmi' and of Nri- 

 sinha, which are adored even by the gods, and the fragrant dust of which 

 is revered by all mankind. I bow in reverence to Saraswati the destroy- 

 er of the darkness of infatuated ignorance, and to my instructOF who is 

 distinguished in the science of mathematics. 



3. May the illustrious king of kings raja Jaya Sinha, who pure in heart 

 by his own prowess and without dread brought Sri' Govinda and the 

 other learned men who had fled from Vrinddvan and settled them (in his 

 own neighbourhood), and who has by his own force reduced to obedience 

 Mlechchha chiefs of distinguished rank, — rule long over this portion of 

 the earth. 



4. He shines conspicuous by his glorious power, by which he has re- 

 moved the tax under which the people were grievously oppressed ; he is 

 terrible to his enemies and like the sun in the hot season, not to be endur- 

 ed by them. 



5. He performed the Wujdpaya and other sacrifices, and celebrated also 

 the 16 Mahdddn, bestowing on the most distinguished brahmans, cows and 

 villages, elephants and horses. 



6. For the pleasure of this most illustrious king Sri' Jaya Sinha, the 

 brahman Samrat Jaganna'tha composes this most excellent work called 

 the " Rekha Ganita" or geometry. 



7. It is a novel and unequalled science, in as much as it teaches from a 

 knowledge of angles clearly to ascertain the measurements of different 

 figures. 



8. This treatise on geometry (or mechanics Shilpashastra ) was origi- 

 nally revealed by Brahma to Vishwakarma from whom it descended to 

 this earth, and has been handed down from generation to generation. 



9. But being lost in the course of time, I, by the commands of the Ma- 

 haraja Jaya Sinha, have again published it to the world, for the delight 

 of all mathematicians. 



The Relcha Ganita contains 15 books and 478 propositions. In the first 

 book are 48 propositions. 



Definitions or explanation of the terms used. 



1. A point is that which is visible to the eye, but is incapable of sub- 

 division. 



2. A line is long — but is without breadth : it may be divided. 



6 D 



