Preface

I, the virtuous Achyutananda, bow to Her—the dark-complexioned One adorned with a crescent moon, who possesses four arms like emeralds and carries a severed head, a sword, and gestures of granting boons and dispelling fear; who shines with three eyes, wears divine garlands on her heavy, opulent breasts, and radiates the brilliance of ten million rising suns—and now, I compose this preface.

It is well known to those who possess knowledge of what should be known, and to those scholars whose intellects have been purified by bathing in the three-fold science of Jyotiṣa astronomy/astrology, that among the various works of the illustrious Bhāskarāchārya—the crest-jewel of the noble land of India, who shone like a sun amidst the lotus-like family of astronomers—the "Bījagaṇita" Algebra, which constitutes one chapter of the "Siddhānta Śiromaṇi" Crest Jewel of Astronomical Systems, occupies the highest position among available ancient mathematical texts.

It is also not hidden from teachers and students that this book is prescribed for study in the Madhyamā and Śāstrī examinations at the Government Sanskrit College in Kashi and other regions.

Until now, no commentary on such a book has been available that could assist those Sanskrit-seeking students who desire to learn modern (Western) mathematics. Therefore, I have attempted to make this book as useful as possible for both resident students and teachers.

To this end, I have composed this commentary titled "Vimalā," adorned with new methods of answering Bhāskara's individual examples, questions and answers related to Western algebra presented at the end of chapters, various specialized questions, and novel proofs for each of Bhāskara’s formulas, all written in simple Sanskrit for the benefit of students aspiring to the Śāstrī degree.

Regarding the ancient methodology of questions and answers, I have observed the "Subodhinī" commentary, which is complete in all respects and pleasing to the hearts of astrologers, composed by Shri Jivanatha Daivajña, an ornament of the Maithila family.