THE STATURE OF GOTAMA BUDDHA, 



83 



be cut off. Here/ — this is the size of Buddha's approved robe, — 

 nine vidatthi long, in imperial vidatthi, and six in width. This 

 is the size of Buddha's approved robe." 



Applying,, therefore, to the word sugata the same sense 

 when it is added to vidatthi or arigula, we cannot, we 

 apprehend, be far wrong if we interpret sugata-vid'atthi as 

 the "accepted span," "the legally prescribed span,"' as 

 opposed to " the span measured by the extended thumb, 

 and little finger." 



Let us then venture to ascertain what this, if I may so 1 

 call, imperial measure was ? It is stated that twelve angulas 

 make a vidatthi or span and two vidatthi's a hastha, [or 

 ratana, Pali] € the lower half of the arm." 



Vidatthi is a Pali form of the Sanskrit word vitas thi. 

 It was a measure known to Brabmans as well as Buddhists. 

 According to both, it is "along span, measured by the 

 extended thumb and little finger" ; Asvalayana Grihyas 

 iv. 1. Both are agreed as to a span being considered " equal 

 to twelve angulas or fingers." [£. e., finger's breadth.] 



Now, to determine the exact value of arigula mentioned 

 in any system of lineal measure, one must naturally look 

 to the unit from which it is raised. This unit, according to 

 the Abhidhanapadipika, is a likkhd or dot ; and, according 

 to the Amarakosa, a yava } or u barley corn." It is however 

 impossible to form a correct idea as to what this likkhd was, 

 or what was the size of the i/ava, " proceeding downwards 

 to the paramanu, or the 6 most minute atom,' according to 

 the authoritative works of the Hindus." 1 The Greek writers 

 on India have given extraordinary'accounts of the size of 



Pacchimantena sarighati dighato mutthi pancakan. 

 Mutthittikan ca tiriyan tato unan navattati : 

 4 The outer robe [shall be], at least, five short (cubits) in length, and 

 three short (cubits in width — less (shall be) unlawful. V 

 1 Frincep's Ind. Anting, vol. ii. Part 2, p. 122. 



