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## Chapter 428, Life Chapter
## Verses 352-354
To bring about the mathematical combinations of letters, establish two quantities (two digits) for the sixty-four letters. Then multiply them together, and subtract one from the resulting product to get the total number of combinations.
The sixty-four letters are: a, ā, ā, 3, i, ī, ī, 3, u, ū, ū, 3, ṛ, ṛ, ṛ, 3, l, l, l, 3, e, e, 2, e, 3, ai, ai, 2, ai, 3, o, o, 2, o, 3, au, au, 2, au, 3, k, kh, g, gh, ṅ, c, ch, j, jh, ṅ, ṭ, ṭh, ḍ, ḍh, ṇ, t, th, d, dh, n, p, ph, b, bh, m, y, r, l, v, ś, ṣ, s, h, k, p, aṁ, aḥ.
**Question:** Why are the five sounds k, kh, g, gh, ṅ not included in these letters?
**Answer:** Because the combinations arising from the sounds following the k-series without vowels are included in the combinations of letters.
The number of these letters (64) is multiplied by two, and then multiplied by itself. This results in the number 18446744073706551616. Subtracting one from this number gives the number of combinations of letters.
**Question:** How are the single and double combinations, etc., of the Shruta Jnana (knowledge of the scriptures) generated by multiplying the number of letters (64) by two and then squaring it? And why is one subtracted from the resulting number?
**Answer:** The first letter has only one combination, because it does not combine with the remaining letters. When considering the second letter, there are two combinations: one combination with respect to its own position, and another combination with the first and second letters. Thus, there are only two combinations.
**Question:** What is a combination? Is it the unity of two letters? Is it the simultaneous pronunciation of two letters? Is it the name for their having the same meaning (one meaning)?
**Answer:** The unity of two letters cannot be a combination, because if we assume unity, then the duality is destroyed, and there is a contradiction in their being a combination. Simultaneous pronunciation is also not the name for a combination, because it is not possible to pronounce all sixty-four letters simultaneously. Therefore, we should accept that the name for a combination is the same meaning.
**Question:** How can many letters existing in one meaning be called one letter?
**Answer:** This is not a fault, because their unity is found through the meaning.
**References:**
1. Dhavala, Vol. 13, Page 246
2. Chavala, Vol. 13, Page 246
3. Dhavala, Vol. 13, Page 250