TEXT 9
dvadasardha-palonmanam
caturbhis catur-angulaih
svarna-masaih krta-cchidram
yavat prastha-jala-plutam
SYNONYMS
dvadasa-ardhasix; palaof the scale of weight; unmanammeasuring pot; caturbhihby weight of four; catuh-angulaihfour fingers by measure; svarnaof gold; masaihof the weight; krta-chidrammaking a hole; yavatas long as; prasthameasuring one prastha; jala-plutamfilled by water.
TRANSLATION
The measuring pot for one nadika, or danda, can be prepared with a six-pala-weight [fourteen ounce] pot of copper, in which a hole is bored with a gold probe weighing four masa and measuring four fingers long. When the pot is placed on water, the time before the water overflows in the pot is called one danda.
PURPORT
It is advised herein that the bore in the copper measuring pot must be made with a probe weighing not more than four masa and measuring not longer than four fingers. This regulates the diameter of the hole. The pot is submerged in water, and the overflooding time is called a danda. This is another way of measuring the duration of a danda, just as time is measured by sand in a glass. It appears that in the days of Vedic civilization there was no dearth of knowledge in physics, chemistry or higher mathematics. Measurements were calculated in different ways, as simply as could be done.

Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/3/11/9

Previous: SB 3.11.8     Next: SB 3.11.10

If you Love Me Distribute My Books -- Srila Prabhupada