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**Six-Part Cosmography**
In the context of time, the measurement of objects used for work, such as pots, mirrors, ploughs, pestles, chariots, carts, umbrellas, fly whisks, thrones, bows, arrows, etc., as well as the measurement of houses, gardens, cities, and pleasure grounds for the temporary residence of humans, is done using the **ātma-angula** (soul-inch). Six **angula** make one **pāda** (foot), two **pāda** make one **vihrasti** (span), two **vihrasti** make one **hasta** (hand), two **hasta** make one **kiṣku**, two **kiṣku** make one **daṇḍa**, **yuga**, **dhanuṣ** (bow), **nālī** (channel), or **mūṣala** (pestle). Two thousand **dhanuṣ** make one **kośa**, and four **kośa** make one **yojana**.
The measurement of **ardha-palya** has been explained above. By multiplying the **ardha-palya** by the number of its **ardha-ccheda** (half-divisions), the measurement of **sūcyangula** (needle-inch) is obtained. The square of **sūcyangula** is called **pratara-angula** (square-inch), and its cube is called **ghana-angula** (cubic-inch).
The **ardha-palya** is divided into an infinite number of parts. Alternatively, the measurement obtained by multiplying the **ghana-angula** by the infinite number of **ardha-ccheda** of the **ardha-palya** is called **jagacchreṇī** (world-series). The seventh part of the **jagacchreṇī** is called **rāju** or **rajju** (rope). The measurement of this **rāju** is equal to the extent of the **madhyaloka** (middle world). The square of the **jagacchreṇī** is called **jagat-pratar** (world-square), and its cube is called **ghana-loka** (cubic-world).
These eight measurements, namely **palya-upamā** (comparison with **palya**), **sāgara-upamā** (comparison with ocean), **sūcyangula**, **pratara-angula**, **ghana-angula**, **jagacchreṇī**, **jagat-pratar**, and **ghana-loka**, are different types of **upamā-pramāṇa** (comparative measurement). They are used in this text to explain the measurements of **dravya** (substance), **kṣetra** (space), and **kāla** (time) as required.
**4. Bhāva-pramāṇa** (Conceptual Measurement): The knowledge of the actual number of a thing through the above three types of measurements is called **bhāva-pramāṇa**. This means that wherever a measurement is given for **dravya**, **kāla**, or **kṣetra** in relation to a particular **guṇasthāna** (quality-place) and **mārgaṇasthāna** (path-place), that measurement should be understood as **bhāva-pramāṇa**, i.e., the actual knowledge of that measurement.
In the enumeration of numbers, the number of living beings is first described in relation to **guṇasthāna** and then in relation to **mārgaṇasthāna**. The author of the sūtra (aphorism) first raises a question through the **pṛcchā-sūtra** (question-aphorism) and then gives the answer through the **uttara-sūtra** (answer-aphorism). For example, "How many **mithyā-dṛṣṭi** (false-sighted) living beings are there according to the measurement of **dravya**?" The answer is "Infinite." Now, there is a doubt here because there are many different types of infinity in a gross way, and an infinite number of types in a subtle way. So, how many entities should be considered as infinite here? The Ācārya (teacher) resolves this doubt by taking recourse to **kāla-pramāṇa** (time-measurement). He says that the number of infinite **utsarpini** (ascending) and **avasarpiṇī** (descending) time cycles that have passed in the past is the measurement of time. Even more than that,
1. The divisions obtained by repeatedly dividing any desired quantity by half until one is reached are called **ardha-ccheda**.
2. See **Rājāvartikā**, **a.** 3, **sū.** 38, commentary.
3. See **Triloka-prajñapti**, **a.** 1, **gā.** 131.