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Kriyāpāda . 99 based on the shadow of a man, a method widely used in Kerala, is also noted by our author. (25) In measuring lands the space covered by a foot is often taken as a unit. Thus Pada-technically denotes an area of square foot. From then onwards it is multipled to make other technical terms to denote measured areas. It is said: प्रान्तसूत्रचतुष्कान्तरेकं स्यात् सकलं पदम् ।
प्राच्योदीच्यैकसूत्रादिवृद्धया तत् स्यात् चतुष्पदम् ॥
एवं प्रागुत्तरपदपङिक्तवृद्धि क्रमान्नयेत् ।। The author has given the technical terms for ten measurements before proceeding to define them. अथातः पदविन्यासः कथ्यते वास्तुसिद्धये ।
सकलं . पेचकं पीठं महापीठोपपीठके ।।
उग्रपीठं स्थाण्डिलं च मण्डूकं परशायिकम् । आसनं चेति दशधा ग्रामादिन्यासचण्डितम् ।।
As already noted Sakala stands for a square foot of land. The other measurements are as follows. Pecaka=four square feet; Pitha= nine square feet ; Mahapitha=sixteen square feet ; Upapithan Twenty five square feet; Ugrapitha=Thirtysix square feet; Sthandila=fortynine square feet; Manduka=Sixty four square feet Paraśāyika=Eightyone square feet and Asana=Hundred square feet. Over and above these, measurements like Māşa, Vartanaka, Vāți and Kuļuba also are given indicating their size.
The measurements of villages, forts settlements, cities etc., are enumerated by the author. Fourteen categories are mentioned in this connection. प्राकारान्तरथावाससीमामानमिहोच्यते ।
ग्रामश्च खेटकाश्चाथ खर्बटं दुर्गमेव च ॥
नगरं राजधानी च पत्तनं द्रोणिकामुखम् । शिबिरं स्कन्धवारश्च स्थानीयं च विडम्बकम् ॥
निगमश्चाथ निर्दिष्टः स्यात् छायानगरं ततः ।
एषां चतुर्दशानां च लक्षणं पृथगुच्यते ।
These technical terms represent places like village, small town, town protected by walls, fortified town, city, capital of the ruler, large
