Expounding the Mathematical Seed : The Translation: A Translation of Bhaskara I on the Mathematical Chapter of the Aryabhatiya

In the 5th century the Indian mathematician Aryabhata (476-499) wrote a small but famous work on astronomy, the Aryabhatiya. This treatise, written in 118 verses, gives in its second chapter a summary of Hindu mathematics up to that time. Two hundred years later, an Indian astronomer called Bhaskara glossed this mathematial chapter of the Aryabhatiya.

An english translation of Bhaskara’s commentary and a mathematical supplement are presented in two volumes.

Subjects treated in Bhaskara’s commentary range from computing the volume of an equilateral tetrahedron to the interest on a loaned capital, from computations on series to an elaborate process to solve a Diophantine equation.

This volume contains an introduction and the literal translation.

The introduction aims at providing a general background for the translation and is divided in three sections: the first locates Bhaskara’s text, the second looks at its mathematical contents and the third section analyzes the relations of the commentary and the treatise.

"This magnum opus is truly a tour de force; the reviewer quickly runs out of superlatives as he peruses the two volumes of today's source on some of the truly great works and contributions of the famous Indian mathematician and astronomer. Your reviewer has to admit that he cannot begin to do justice to the breadth and depth of material presented and the beautiful presentation in matters of printing and layout that enhances the concepts of early scholars."

- Current Engineering Practice