Bīrūnī, Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad, Alberuni's India (v. 1)

(London :  Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co.,  1910.)

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142                        ALBERUNPS INDIA.

but his calculation showing how to find that place
which every single foot occupies in this series of per¬
mutations is not in accordance with it.    For he says:

"Place the numeral 2 to denote each element of a
foot (i.e. both guru and laghu), once for all, so that
every foot is represented by 2, 2, 2. Multiply the
left (number) by the middle, and the product by the
right one. If this multiplier (i.e. this number of the
right side) is a laghu, then leave the product as it is ;
but if it is a guru, subtract one from the product."

The author exemplifies this with the sixth foot, i.e.
1 < |. He multiplies 2 by 2, and from the product (4)
he subtracts i. The remaining 3 he multiplies by the
third 2, aud he gets the product of 6.

This, however, is not correct for most of the feet, and
I am rather inclined to believe that the text of the
manuscript is corrupt.

The proper order of the feet would accordingly be the
following:

III.
 


 

I.
 

II.
 

III.
 

I.
 

<
 

<
 

<
 

2.
 

1
 

<
 

<
 

3-
 

<
 

1
 

<
 

4-
 

1
 

1
 

<
 


 

I.
 

n.
 

5-
 

<
 

<
 

6.
 

1
 

<
 

7-
 

<
 

1
 

The mixture of the first line (No. I.) is such that one
kind always follows the other. In the second line
(No, II.) two of one kind are followed by two of the
other; and in the third line (No. III.) four of one kind
are followed by four of the other.

Then the author of the above-mentioned calculation
goes on to say : " If the first element of the foot is a
guru, subtract one before you multiply. If the multi¬
plier is a guru, subtract one from the product. Thus
you find the place which a foot occupies in this order."
Onthe            As the Arabic verse is divided into two halves or

^^ "^'         hemistichs by the drud, i.e. the last foot of the first
  Page 142