DEVELOPMENT OF BJAGAITA

M.D.SRINIVAS
CENTRE FOR POLICY STUDIES
mdsrinivas50@gmail.com
BJAGAITA OR AVYKTA-GAITA
Bjagaita or avyakta-gaita, is computation with seeds, or computation
with unmanifest or unknown quantities, which are usually denoted by
varas, colours or symbols.
The following invocatory verse of Bjagaita of Bhskarcrya II (c.1150)
has been interpreted in three different ways by Ka Daivaja (c.1600)
u ; S
~ ~
~ ~ u ~ u;
q U ~
I salute that avyakta (prakti or primordial nature), which the philosophers
of the Skhya School declare to be the producer of buddhi (the
intellectual principle mahat), while it is being directed by the immanent
Purua (the Being). It is the sole bja (seed or the cause) of all that is
manifest.

BJAGAITA OR AVYKTA-GAITA
I salute that a (the ruling power, Brahman), which the Skhyas
(those who have realised the Self) declare to be the producer of buddhi
(tattvajna or true knowledge of reality), which arises in a
distinguished person (who has accomplished the four-fold sdhanas of
viveka, etc.). It is the sole bja (seed or the cause) of all that is
manifest.
I salute that avyakta-gaita (computations with unmanifest or
indeterminate quantities), which the Skhya (who are proficient in
numbers) declare to be the producer of buddhi (mathematical
knowledge), which arises in a distinguished person (proficient in
mathematics). It is the sole bja (seed or the cause) of all vyakta-gaita
(computations with manifest quantities, such as arithmetic, geometry
etc.)
DEVELOPMENT OF BJAGAITA
The notion of a variable quantity, yvat-tvat (as many as), goes back to
ulvastras. The Ktyyana ulvastra deals with the problem of
constructing a square whose area is n-times that of a given square:
u "
z [ .]
As many squares as you wish to combine into one, the transverse line will
be one less than that. Twice the side will be one more than that. That will
be the triangle. Its arrow (altitude) will produce that.

DEVELOPMENT OF BJAGAITA
ryabhaiya (c.499) uses the term gulik for the unknown. There, we also
find the solution of linear and quadratic equations and also the kuaka
process for the solution of linear indeterminate equations.
Bhskara I (c.629) uses the notion of yvat-tvat in his commentary of
ryabhaya.
Brahmagupta has given a detailed exposition of bjagaita in the Chapter
XVIII, Kuakdhyya of his Brhmasphuasiddhnta (c.628). This work
has been commented upon by Pthdakasvmi (c.860)
rpati deals with avyakta-gaita in Chapter XIV of his Siddhntaekhara
(c.1050)
Bhskarcrya II has written the most detailed available treatise on
Bjaganita (1150). There, he states that he has only compiled and abridged
from the treatises of rdhara (c.750) and Padmanbha, which are not
available. Bjaganita has been commented upon by Sryadsa (c.1540)
and Ka Daivaja (c.1600).
Nryaa Paita (c.1350) has also composed a treatise,
Bjagaitvatasa, of which only the first few chapters are available.
KUAKDHYYA OF BRHMASPHUASIDDHNTA (c.628)

The following are the topics dealt with in the Chapter XVIII,
Kuakdhyya, of Brhmasphuasiddhnta.
Solutions of linear indeterminate equations by kuaka process and its
applications in astronomical problems
Rule of signs and arithmetic of zero
Surds (kara)
Operations with unknowns (vara-avidha or avyakta- avidha)
Equations with single unknown (ekavara-samkaraa)
Elimination of middle term in quadratic equations (madhyamharaa)
Equations with several unknowns (anekavara-samkaraa)
Equations with products of unknowns (bhvita)
Vargaprakti: Second order indeterminate equation x
2
- D y
2
= 1.
Bhvan and applications to finding rational and integral solutions.
Various problems

RULE OF SIGNS AND ARITHMETIC OF ZERO
The Brhmasphuasiddhnta is the first available text which discusses the
arithmetic of zero (nya-parikarma) as well as the six operations with
positive and negative numbers (dhanaa-avidha). These are discussed
together in a set of verses at the beginning of the kuakdhyya.

RULE OF SIGNS AND ARITHMETIC OF ZERO

RULE OF SIGNS AND ARITHMETIC OF ZERO


KA ON THE NOTION OF NEGATIVE NUMBERS
Ka Daivaja (c.1600), in his commentary Bjanavkur on Bjaganita
of Bhskara II, explains how negativity is to be understood in different
contexts. He then goes onto show that this physical interpretation of
negativity can be used to demonstrate the rule of signs in algebra in
different situations.
> q
~ Hu
z
>
u
u u;
; ~z



KA ON THE NOTION OF NEGATIVE NUMBERS
'Negativity (atva) here is of three types: Spatial, temporal and that
pertaining to objects. In each case, [negativity] is indeed the vaipartya or
the oppositeness. As has been clearly stated by the crya in Llvat in
the example The bhujs are ten and seventeen etc. For instance, the
other direction in a line is called the opposite direction (viparta dik); just
as west is the opposite of east... Further, between two stations if one way
of traversing is considered positive then the other is negative... In the same
way past and future time intervals will be mutually negative of each
other... Similarly, when one possesses said objects they would be called
his dhana (wealth). The opposite would be the case when another owns the
same objects... '
The example discussed by Bhskara in Llvat has to with the calculation
of the base-intercepts (bdhas) in a triangle. There, Bhskara explains
that if the calculation leads to a negative intercept, it should be interpreted
as going in the opposite direction. This happens when the foot of the
altitude falls outside the base.
BHSKARAS EXAMPLE OF NEGATIVE INTERCEPT
Hu u
[ ~]
'In a triangle, which has sides 10, 17 and 9, tell me quickly, Oh
mathematician, the base intercepts and the area.'
In his vsan, Bhskara gives the solution of this problem as follows

-,
Here, using the rule, 'The sum of the sides...', we get (the difference of the
intercepts to be) 21. We cannot subtract this from the base (9). Hence, the
base has to be subtracted from this (difference) only and the half of the
result is the intercept which is negative, because it is in the opposite
direction. Thus the intercepts are (-6, 15).

BHSKARAS EXAMPLE OF NEGATIVE INTERCEPT

In a triangle with sides a, b, and base c, the base intercepts (bdh) c
1
, c
2

are given by
c
1
+ c
2
= a
c
1
~ c
2
=(b
2
~ c
2
)/ a
1
+ a
2
= (b
2
~ c
2
)/a
Thus, in our problem,
c
1
+ c
2
= 9
c
1
~ c
2
= (17
2
-10
2
)/9 = 21.
Hence d
1
= - (21-9)/2 = -6 and d
2
= 15.
ALGEBRAIC NOTATION
In the ryabhayabhya of Bhskara (c.629) we find references to the
algebraic notation used in Indian mathematics. Various features of the
notation are more clearly known from the Bakhl manuscript (c. 700).
The system of algebraic notation is explained and fully exemplified in the
Bjagaita of Bhskara II (c.1050), together with his own auto-
commentary vsan.
In vsan on verse 3 of Bjagaita, Bhskara says
~ U


Here (in algebra), the initial letters of both the known and unknown
quantities should be written as their signs. Similarly those (quantities)
which are negative, they have (to be shown with) a dot over them.


ALGEBRAIC NOTATION

[Takao Hayashi, Algebra in India: Bjagaita, in Selin ed. Encyclopaedia of History of Science,
Technology and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures, 2008, p.112]
VARGA PRAKTI
In Chapter 18 of his Brhmasphuasiddhnta (c.628), Brahmagupta
discussed the problem of solving for integral values of X, Y, the equation
X
2
- D Y
2
= K
given a non-square integer D > 0, and an integer K.
X is called the jyeha-mla, Y is called the kaniha-mla
D is the prakti, K is the kepa

One motivation for this problem is that of finding rational approximations
to square-root of D. If X, Y are integers such that X
2
- D Y
2
= 1, then,

The ulva-stra approximation 2 ~ 1+ 1/3 + 1/3.4 - 1/3.4.34 = 577/408
is an example as (577)
2
- 2 (408)
2
= 1.
BRAHMAGUPTAS BHVAN

If X
1
2
- D Y
1
2
= K
1
and X
2
2
-

D Y
2
2
= K
2
then
(X
1
X
2
D Y
1
Y
2
)
2
- D (X
1
Y
2
X
2
Y
1
)
2
= K
1
K
2

In particular, given X
2
-D Y
2
= K, we get the rational solution
[(X
2
+ D Y
2
)/K]
2
- D [(2XY)/K]
2
= 1
Also, if one solution of the Equation X
2
-

D Y
2
= 1 is found, an infinite
number of solutions can be found, via (X, Y) (X
2
+ D Y
2
, 2XY)
USE OF BHVAN WHEN K = -1, 2, 4
The bhvan principle can be use to obtain a solution of the equation
x
2
- D y
2
= 1
if we have a solution of the equation
x
1
2
- D y
1
2
= K

for K = -1, 2, 4

BHVAN AND RATIONAL APPROXIMATION OF SQUARE-ROOTS
If x and y have been found as a solution of
x
2
- D y
2
= 1
then by bhvan of this solution with itself, we get another solution x
1,
y
1

x
1
= x
2
+ D y
2
and y
1
= 2 x y
From the inequality we wrote earlier, it is clear that (x
1
/y
1
) gives a better
approximation of D. Thus we can generate a series of better and better
approximations by successive applications of bhvan. Nryaa Paita
gives an instance on this in Gaitakaumud. The equation
x
2
- 10y
2
= 1
has solutions x = 19 y = 6. By bhvan, we get
x
1
= 19
2
+10. 6
2
= 721 and y
1
= 2.19.6 = 228
By doing bhvan once again, we get
x
2
= 721
2
+10. 228
2
= 1039681 and y
2
= 2.721.228 = 328776
Thus, 10 ~19/6, 721/228, 1039681/328776
BHVAN AND RATIONAL APPROXIMATION OF SQUARE-ROOTS
Let us start with (x, y) such that x
2
- D y
2
= 1
x
1
/y
1
= (x
2
+ D y
2
)/ (2 x y) = (2 x
2
-1)/ (2 x y) = (x/y) - 1/y.2x
If the solution (x
2,
y
2
) is obtained by bhvan of (x
1,
y
1
) with itself, then
x
2
/y
2
= (x
1
/y
1
) - 1/y.2x
1
= (x/y) - (1/y.2x) - [1/ y.2x.(4 x
2
-2)]
Thus, we have a series of better approximations which may expressed in
the form
(x
r
/y
r
) = (x/y) - (1/y.n
1
) - (1/ y. n
1
.n
2
) - ... - (1/ y. n
1
.n
2
... n
r
)
where n
1
= 2x and n
i
= n
i-1
2
- 2, for i = 2, 3, ..., r.
Example: For D = 2, we start with x = 3 and y = 2. We have
x
2
/y
2
=( 3/2) - 1/2.6 -1/2.6. (6
2
-2) = (3/2) -1/2.6 -1/2.6.34
By re-grouping the first two terms, the above approximation can be seen
to be the same as in the ulva-stras. We can now generate further terms
to get the series
2 ~ 1+1/3 + 1/3.4 -1/3.4.34 -1/3.4.34.1154 - 1/3.4.34.1154.1331714 - ...
where 1154 = 34
2
-2, 133714 = 1154
2
- 2, and so on.
CAKRAVLA: THE CYCLIC METHOD
The first known reference to Cakravla or the cyclic method occurs in a
work of Udayadivkara (c.1073), who cites the following verses of crya
Jayadeva:
zS u -
u u H
uHu S S u S
H S > u
? u
u H uHq S H S
H S >
U z +uH


CAKRAVLA ACCORDING TO JAYADEVA
Given X
i
, Y
i
, K
i
such that X
i

2
- D Y
i
2
= K
i

First find P
i+1
as follows:
(I) Use kuaka process to solve
(Y
i
P
i+1
+ X
i
)/ K
i
= Y
i+1

for integral P
i+1
,

Y
i+1
(II) Of the solutions of the above, choose P
i+1
such that
(P
i+1
2
- D)/K
i
has the least value
Then set
K
i+1
= (P
i+1
2
- D)/ K
i
Y
i+1
= (Y
i
P
i+1
+ X
i
)/ |K
i
|
X
i+1
= (X
i
P
i+1
+ DY
i
)/ |K
i
|
These satisfy X
i+1
2
- D Y
i+1
2
= K
i+1
Iterate the process till K
i+1
=

1, 2 or 4, and then solve the equation
using bhvan.
Jayadevas verses do not reveal how condition II is to be interpreted.

CAKRAVLA ACCORDING TO BHSKARA (c. 1150)
We do not have any examples from Jayadeva to illustrate how condition II
is to be interpreted.
In his Bjagaita, Bhskarcrya gives the following description of
Cakravla:
zS u u >
u ~ u >
z S >+
z z

Bhskara has given the Condition II in the precise form:
(II) Choose P
i+1
such that |(P
i+1
2
- D)| has the least value


CAKRAVLA ACCORDING TO BHSKARA
In 1930, Krishnaswamy Ayyangar showed that the Cakravala algorithm
always leads to a solution of the Varga-Prakti equation with K=1. He also
showed that condition (I) is equivalent to the simpler condition
(I) P
i
+

P
i+1
is divisible by K
i
Thus, we shall now use the Cakravla algorithm in the following form:
To solve X
2
- D Y
2
= 1
Set X
0
= 1, Y
0
= 0, K
0
= 1 and P
0
= 1.
Given X
i
, Y
i
, K
i
such that X
i

2
- D Y
i
2
= K
i

First find P
i+1
so as to satisfy:
(I) P
i
+

P
i+1
is divisible by K
i

(II) P
i+1
2
-D is minimum.
Then set
K
i+1
= (P
i+1
2
- D)/K
i
Y
i+1
= (Y
i
P
i+1
+ X
i
)/ |K
i
|

X
i+1
= (X
i
P
i+1
+ DY
i
)/ |K
i
|
These satisfy X
i +1
2
- D Y
i +1
2
= K
i +1

Iterate till K
i +1
=

1, 2 or 4, and then use Bhvan.
BHASKARAS EXAMPLES




BHSKARAS EXAMPLE: X
2
- 61 Y
2
= 1

To find P
1
: 0+7, 0+8, 0+9 ... divisible by 1. 8
2
closest to 61. P
1
= 8, K
1
= 3
To find P
2
: 8+4, 8+7, 8+10 ... divisible by 3. 7
2
closest to 61. P
2
=7, K
1
= -4
After the second step, we have: 39
2
- 61 x 5
2
= -4
Now, since have reached K=-4, we can use bhvan principle to obtain
X = (39
2
+2) [() (39
2
+1) (39
2
+3) - 1] = 1,766,319,049
Y = () (39 x 5) (39
2
+1) (39
2
+3) = 226,153,980
1766319049
2
- 61. 226153980
2
= 1
I

P
i

K
i

a
i

i
X
i

Y
i

0

0

1

8 1 1

0

1

8

3

5 -1 8

1

2

7

-4

4 1 39

5

3

9

-5

3 -1 164

21

BHSKARAS EXAMPLE: X
2
- 61 Y
2
= 1
I

P
i

K
i

a
i

i
X
i

Y
i

3

9

-5

3 -1 164

21

4

6

5

3 1 453

58

5

9

4

4 -1 1523

195

6

7

-3

5 1 5639

722

7

8

-1

16 -1 29718

3805

8

8

-3

5 -1 469849

60158

9

7

4

4 1 2319527

296985

10

9

5

3 -1 9747957

1248098

11

6

-5

3 1 26924344

3447309

12

9

-4

4 -1 90520989

11590025

13

7

3

5 1 335159612

42912791

14 8 1 16 -1 1766319049 226153980
BHASKARAS EXAMPLE: X
2
- 67 Y
2
= 1
I

P
i

K
i

a
i

i
X
i

Y
i

0

0

1

8 1 1

0

1

8

-3

5 1 8

1

2

7

6

2 1 41

5

3

5

-7

2 1 90

11

4

9

-2

9 -1 221

27

5

9

-7

2 -1 1899

232

6

5

6

2 1 3577

437

7

7

-3

5 1 9053

1106

8

8

1

16 1 48842

5967

To find P
1
: 0+7, 0+8, 0+9 ... divisible by 1. 8
2
closest to 67. P
1
= 8, K
1
= -3
To find P
2
: 8+4, 8+7, 8+10...divisible by 3. 7
2
closest to 67. P
2
= 7, K
2
= 6
To find P
3
: 7+5, 7+11, 7+17...divisible by 6. 5
2
closest to 67 P
3
= 5, K
3
=-7
To find P
4
: 5+2, 5+9, 5+16...divisible by 7. 9
2
closest to 67 P
4
= 9, K
3
=-2
Now, since have reached K=2, we can do bhvan to find the solution:
48842
2
- 2. 5967
2
= 1
BHSKARA SEMI-REGULAR CONTINUED FRACTIONS
Krishnaswamy Ayyangar has also showed that the Cakravla algorithm
corresponds to a semi-regular continued fraction expansion of D.
A simple continued fraction is of the form (a
i
are positive integers for i>0)

This is denoted by [a
0,
a
1,
a
2,
a
3,
... ] or by

Given any real number , to get the continued fraction expansion, take
a
0
= [ ]
Let
1
= 1/( - []). Then we take a
1
= [
1
]
Let
2
= 1/(
1
- []). Then we take a
1
= [
2
]. And so on
This will terminate if and only if is rational.
BHSKARA SEMI-REGULAR CONTINUED FRACTIONS
It is a famous result of Lagrange that every quadratic surd has a periodic
simple continued fraction expansion. This expansion is closely linked with
the Euler-Lagrange algorithm for the solution of the so called Pells
equation [vargaprakti equation of Brahmagupta].
Krishnasswamy Ayyangar showed that the Cakravla method of Bhskara
corresponds to a periodic semi-regular continued function expansion
D = a
0
+
1
/ a
1+

2
/ a
2+

3
/ a
3+ ...
where
a
i
= (P
i
+P
i+1
)/ K
i

and
i
= (D - P
i
2
)/ D - P
i
2

For instance,
67 = 8 + *1/5+ 1/2+ 1/2+ 1/9+ -1/2+ -1/2+ 1/5+ 1/16*+ ...
The simple continued fraction of Euler-Lagrange can also be generated by
a Cakravla type of algorithm if we replace the condition II by
(II)D > P
i +1
2
and D - P
i +1
2
is minimum
OPTIMALITY OF CAKRAVLA ALGORITHM
The Cakravla Algorithm is significantly more optimal than the Euler-
Lagrange algorithm as it skips several steps of the latter. It has been
estimated that for large D, Cakravla skips about 30% of the steps
involved in the Euler-Lagrange algorithm. The use of bhvan leads to
further abridgment of the process when we reach K = -1, 2, 4.
Euler-Lagrange Method for X
2
- 67 Y
2
= 1
I

P
i

K
i

a
i

i
X
i

Y
i

0

0

1

8 1 1

0

1

8

-3

5 1 8

1

2

7

6

2 1 41

5

3

5

-7

1 1 90

11

4

2 9 1 1 131 16
5

7

-2

7 1 221

27

6

7

9

1 1 1678 205
7

2
-
7

1 1 1899

232

8

5

6

2 1 3577

437

9 7

-3

5 1 9053

1106

10 8

1

16 1 48842

5967

The steps which are skipped in cakravla are highlighted
67 = 8 + *1/5+ 1/2+ 1/1+ 1/1+ 1/7+ 1/1+ 1/1+ 1/2+ 1/5+ 1/16*+ ...
EULER-LAGRANGE METHOD FOR X
2
- 61 Y
2
= 1

I

P
i

K
i

a
i

i
X
i

Y
i

0

0

1

7 1 1

0

1 7 -12 1 1 7 1
2

5

3

4 1 8

1

3

7

-4

3 1 39

5

4 5

9 1 1 125 16
5

4

-5

2 1 164

21

6

6

5

2 1 453

58

7 4 -9 1 1 1070 137
8

5

4

3 1 1523

195

9

7

-3

4 1 5639

722

10 5 12 1 1 24079 3083
11

7

-1

14 1 29718

3805

The steps which are skipped in cakravla are highlighted

EULER-LAGRANGE METHOD FOR X
2
- 61 Y
2
= 1 (CONTD)

12 7 12 1 1 440131 56353
13

5

-3

4 1 469849

60158

14

7

4

3 1 2319527

296985

15 5 -9 1 1 7428430 951113
16 4 5 2 1 9747967 1248098
17

6

-5

2 1 26924344

3447309

18

4

9

1 1 63596645

8142716

19

5

-4

3 1 90520989

11590025

20

7

3

4 1 335159612

42912791

21 5 -12 1 1 1431159437 183241189
22 7 1 14 1 1766319049 226153980

The steps which are skipped in cakravla are highlighted


CAKRAVLA ACCORDING TO NRYAA (c. 1356)
Nryaa Paita has described the cakravla process in both of his works
Gaitakaumud and Bjagaitvatasa as follows:
zS u
z u
u
~
S
- S
uz
z
Here, Nryaa seems to formulate the condition (II) somewhat
ambiguously as follows:
P
i +1
2
may be chosen to be either greater than or lesser than D.
NRYAAS EXAMPLE: X
2
- 103 Y
2
= 1

At step 4, we can use bhvan to obtain the result directly
X = (477
2
+ 103 x 47
2
)/2 = 455056/2 = 227528
Y = 2 x 477 x 47/2 = 44838/2 = 22419
The sequence of steps here is the same as would follow from Bhskaras
prescription that P
i+1
is so chosen that P
i+1
2
-D is minimum.

I

P
i

K
i

a
i

i
X
i

Y
i

0

0

1

10 1 1

0

1

10

-3

7 1 10

1

2

11

-6

3 -1 71

7

3

7

9

2 1 203

20

4

11

2

11 -1 477

47

5

11

9

2 -1 5044

497

6

7

-6

3 1 9611

947

7

11

-3

7 -1 33877

3338

8

10

1

20 1 227528

22419

NRYAAS EXAMPLE: X
2
- 97 Y
2
= 1
At step 4, if we had followed Bhskaras prescription that P
4
2
- 97 is
minimum, along with the condition that 13+ P
4
be divisible by 9, we
would obtain P
4
=14 and not 5 as above.
In the above example, Nryaa seems to be using the prescription
(II) P
i+1
-D is minimum, which leads to the so called Nearest
Integer Continued Fraction for D.
Thus, by giving these two examples, Nryaa seems to be indicating the
possibility of there being different variants of the cakravla process.
I

P
i

K
i

a
i

i
X
i

Y
i

0

0

1

10 1 1

0

1

10

3

7 -1 10

1

2

11

8 3 -1 69

7

3

13

9

2 -1 197

20

4

14

11

3 -1 522

53

5

8

-3

2 1 847

86

6

10

-1

6 -1 5604

569

THE EQUATION X
2
- D Y
2
= -1

Bhskara states that the equation X
2
- D Y
2
= -1 cannot be solved unless D
is a sum of two squares. Taking D = m
2
+ n
2
Bhskara gives two rational
solutions (X, Y) = (n/m, 1/m) and (X, Y) = (m/n, 1/n).
From these, it is sometimes possible to get integral solutions by bhvan,
as Bhskara shows in the case of X
2
- 13 Y
2
= -1. He obtains X=18, Y=5.
While considering the equation X
2
- 8 Y
2
= -1, Bhskara merely gives the
rational solutions X = 1, Y = 1/2. Here, the commentator Ka Daivaja
seems to imply that in this case also we can obtain integral solutions by
bhvan.

This is incorrect as it can be shown that X
2
- 8 Y
2
= -1 has no integral
solutions.

BHSKARAS SOLUTION OF A BIQUADRATIC
Bhskara II has given an example of the method of solution of a
biquadratic equation of the special form
x
4
+ px
2
+qx+r = 0
by adding to both sides ax
2
-qx+b to both sides, choosing a and b such that
both sides are perfect squares.
This can be done in general, but it could involve a cubic equation. In his
example, Bhskara seems to have guessed the values of a, b.
Bhskaras example is in the madhyamharaa section of Bjagaita:

x
4
-2 (x
2
-200x) = 10000-1
BHSKARAS SOLUTION OF A BIQUADRATIC
The way Bhskara solves this equation is given in his vsan commentary:


BHSKARAS SOLUTION OF A BIQUADRATIC
Bhskara first obtains the two sides of the equation in the form
x
4
- 2x
2
-400x = 9999
He then remarks that if we add 400x+1 to the left side we get a complete
square, but the same thing added to the right hand side will not produce
one, and hence proceeding in this way we cannot accomplish anything.
Hence, says Bhskara, here one has to apply ones intellect.
If we add 4x
2
+ 400x + 1 to both sides, we get the roots
x
2
+ 1 = 2x + 100
This can be solved in the usual way to obtain
x = 11
Bhskara remarks that this is how the intelligent should attempt such
problems.
A.A.Krishnaswami Ayyangar has noted that Bhskaras is indeed the first
solution of a non-trivial biquadratic equation.