Ashtapada

The word Ashtāpada is a Sanskrit term describing the 8×8 board that the game is played on.

This meaning was first recorded by Patanjali in a Mahābhāshya book written in the 2nd century.

Like a chessboard, the Ashtāpada board is divided into an 8×8 grid of squares, although they are all the same color.

The board has special markings known as "castles", where pieces are safe from being captured or removed from play.

[clarification needed] A variant played on a larger 10×10 board is known as Daśapada (Sanskrit: दशपद).