Valmiki Ramayana Bala Kanda Sarga 14 Shloka 23

एकविंशत्यरत्नय: measuring twenty one 'Aratni ' (distance from elbow to the tip of little finger), ते those, एकविंशतियूपा: twenty one posts, एकविंशद्भि: by twenty one, वासोभि: pieces of cloth, एकैकम् one for each post, समलङ्कृता: well decorated.

These twentyone sacrificial posts, each measuring twentyone 'aratni' height, were welldecorated wrapped in a piece of cloth.