CRITICISM OF CERTAIN RULES FOR LONGITUDE 51 In the Laghu-Bhaskariya, the author has neglected the fraction 8/25 and has given the whole number 3299 as the yojanas of the Earth's circumference. Lalla has prescribed the more convenient number 3300. Criticism of the above rule: 5. The distance (obtained above) has been stated to be incorrect by the disciples of (Arya)bhata, who are well versed in astronomy, on the ground that the method of knowing the hypotenuse is gross. (Those) wise people further say that on account of the sphericity of the earth (also), the method used for deriving the above rule commencing with "akşa" is inaccurate. Sripati, too, has criticised the above rule for the same reasons. His commentator Makkibhaṭṭa sums up his criticism in the following words:
"The above rule is incorrect, because of the curvature of the Earth and because of uncertainty of the distances in yojanas depending on hearsay. No intelligent person has verified the popular (estimates of distances in) yojanas by actual measurement with the help of hand, staff, or rope. Therefore, in the face of plurality of popular estimates of distances, this rule is improper."4 It is noteworthy that the inaccurate rule criticised above occurs in the Brāhma-sphuṭa-siddhanta of Brahmagupta and in the Sisya-dhi- vrddhida of Lalla. Criticism of another rule: 6. Some (astronomers) say that the minutes of the difference between the true longitude of the Sun calculated from the midday shadow (of the gnomon at the local place) ¹ LBh, i. 24. 2 Ś¡DVr, I, i, 56. 3 This criticism occurs also in LBh, i. 27 and Sise, i. 104. 4 Siśe, ii. 104(1), comm. 5 i. 36. & I, i. 57-58(i).
