In reference to the Valmiki Ramayana, a spy serving the demon king Ravana narrates to his king the precise strength of his rival Rama’s army. Five individuals from Ravana’s faction, namely his brother and his four ministers, have defected to the opposing camp. The spy also elucidates the numerical system being used. The following is his statement:
This means the following enumeration:
- 100 lakhs = 1 koti (crore) = 107.
- 105 koti = 1 sankha = 1012.
- 105 sankha = 1 mahasankha = 1017.
- 105 mahasankhas = 1 vrinda = 1022.
- 105 vrindas = 1 mahavrinda = 1027.
- 105 mahavrindas = 1 padma = 1032.
- 105 padmas = 1 maha padma = 1037.
- 105 maha padmas = 1 kharva = 1042.
- 105 kharvas = 1 maha kharvas = 1047.
- 103 maha kharvas = 1 samudra = 1050.
- 105 samudras (or ogha) = 1 mahaugha = 1055.