Alpayus, Alpāyus, Alpa-ayus: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Alpayus means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Alpāyus (अल्पायुस्) refers to “(that which leads to) a short life”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 22).—Accordingly, “Now, as the Buddha said to the Upāsaka Nandika, the killing of living beings has ten punishments. What are these ten? [...] 6) He always has bad dreams. 7) At the end of his life (jīvitaparyavasāna), he dreads a bad death. 8) He plants the causes and conditions (hetupratyaya) leading to a short life (alpāyus). 9) After the destruction of the body (kāyabheda) at the end of life (jīvita-paryavasāna), he falls into hell (niraya). 10) If he reappears among men, he always has a short life. [...]”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Alpāyus (अल्पायुस्).—a. shortlived; Manusmṛti 4.157.
-yuḥ m.
Alpāyus is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms alpa and āyus (आयुस्).
Alpāyus (अल्पायुस्).—mfn.
(-yuḥ-yuḥ-yuḥ) 1. Short lived. 2. Young of few years. m.
(-yuḥ) A goat. E. alpa, and āyus life.
Alpāyus (अल्पायुस्).—adj. short-lived, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 4, 157.
Alpāyus is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms alpa and āyus (आयुस्).
Alpāyus (अल्पायुस्).—[adjective] short-lived.
1) Alpāyus (अल्पायुस्):—[from alpa] mfn. shortlived, [Manu-smṛti iv, 157]
2) [v.s. ...] ‘of few years’, a goat, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Alpāyus (अल्पायुस्):—[alpā+yus] (yuḥ) 1. m. A goat. a. Shortlived, young, of few days.
Alpāyus (अल्पायुस्):—(a + ā)
1) adj. ein kurzes Leben habend [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 4, 157.] —
2) m. Ziege [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 2, 9, 25.]
Alpāyus (अल्पायुस्):——
1) Adj. ein kurzes Leben habend. —
2) *m. Ziege.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Alpayusha, Alpayushi, Alpayushka, Alpayushkata, Alpayushya.
Full-text: Arpayucu, Alpayushka, Kayabheda, Kalpa.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Alpayus, Alpāyus, Alpa-ayus, Alpa-āyus; (plurals include: Alpayuses, Alpāyuses, ayuses, āyuses). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Phaladeepika by Mantreswara (text and translation) (by Panditabhushana V. Subrahmanya Sastri)
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Part 7 - Punishments for killing < [Section I.1 - Abstaining from murder]
Part 5 - The Bodhisattva in the Mahāyāna system < [Chapter VIII - The Bodhisattvas]
The Strategic Use of “雜” (zá) in Xuanzang’s... < [Volume 16, Issue 4 (2025)]
Shukra Niti by Shukracharya (by Benoy Kumar Sarkar)