Preface

Among the books collected by my late, revered father, I discovered an unedited and somewhat inaccurate manuscript of the Gaṇita Kaumudī original: "Moonlight of Mathematics" composed by the scholar Śrī Nṛsiṃha Nandana Nārāyaṇa Paṇḍita. This is the first time this text, which was nearly lost and never before printed, has been prepared for publication. Its release is being organized through the Sarasvati Bhavan A renowned research institute and library in Varanasi, India.

At the request of enthusiasts interested in this subject, I have published this first part, which extends up to the section on Arithmetic of Progressions original: "Śreḍhī-vyavahāra," the mathematical study of sequences and series. In the second volume, I will provide a proper introduction to the text and a historical foreword as the opportunity arises.

This year, another copy of the Gaṇita Kaumudī was obtained from the Nepal State Sarasvati Sadan. It is identical to the manuscript I possess. Due to the carelessness of a press worker, a leaf containing three verses (numbers 28, 29, and 30) following verse 27 on page 22 of the printed first part was lost. Those three verses are provided below and should be inserted in their proper place.

A herd of intoxicated elephants was frightened by the terrifying roars of lions. Friend, tell me, how many great elephants were in that herd, if one-fourth of the herd, half the square root of the herd, and the square root of the herd minus its root and its fractional parts This refers to a complex fractional calculation common in medieval Indian "word problems" were seen, and one remaining tusker was seen with five female elephants and a lion? ॥28॥

Statement of the Problem original: "Nyāsa". 1̇ 4 1̇ 2 These represent fractional coefficients in traditional Indian notation. Given quantity original: "Dṛśyam": 6. The resulting number of elephants: 100.
In the case of a quantity involving its own square root and subtractions: 1 1̇ 5 1̇ 10. Root original: "Mū.": 1. Given quantity: 25. The resulting sum: 36.

Furthermore —

A curious person released half a flock of pigeons, then one-third of the remainder, and then one-fourth of that remainder. If one then subtracts the square root and a fourth part of the root, and ten pigeons are seen remaining on the ground, tell me, how many birds were in that flock? ॥29॥