Verse 8.10 - The four kinds of fe-determining karma (āyus)

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 8.10:

नारकतैर्यग्योनमानुषदैवानि ॥ ८.१० ॥

nārakatairyagyonamānuṣadaivāni || 8.10 ||

The life-determining (āyuḥ [āyus]) karma has four subdivisions: life as an infernal being–narakāyuḥ [narakāyu], life as plant and animal–tiryañcāyuḥ [tiryañcāyu], life as a human being–manuṣyāyuḥ [manuṣyāyu] and life as a celestial being–devāyuḥ [devāyu]. (10)

Hindi Anvayarth:

अन्वयार्थ: [नारकतैर्यग्योनमानुषदैवानि] नरकायु, तिर्यंचायु, मनुष्यायु और देवायु-ये चार भेद आयुकर्म के हैं।

Anvayartha: [narakatairyagyonamanushadaivani] narakayu, tiryamcayu, manushyayu aura devayu-ye cara bheda ayukarma ke haim |

Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:

The subdivisions of the life-determining (āyuḥ [āyu/āyus]) karma are described next.

In states of existence, like the infernal being, the period of life is indicated by the life-determining (āyuḥ [āyus]) karma. The life in the infernal regions is narakāyuḥ [narakāyus/narakāyu]. The life in the plants and animal world is tiryañcāyuḥ [tiryañcāyus/tiryañcāyu]. The life in the human world is manuṣyāyuḥ [manuṣyāyus/manuṣyāyu]. And, the life in the celestial regions is devāyuḥ [devāyus/devāyu]. That by which an individual lives a long span of life in the infernal regions where there is intense heat and cold is the infernal life-karma. Similarly it must be understood with regard to the rest.

Out of the ten vitalities (prāṇa), the life-duration (āyuḥ-prāṇa) holds the most important place. This is the primary cause of life. As long as life-duration (āyuḥ-prāṇa) is present, the living-being is alive; when life-duration (āyuḥ-prāṇa) is absent, the living-being is dead. Food, etc., are just the helpful causes of maintaining life. The life-determining (āyuḥ [āyus/āyu]) karma is the primary cause of attaining the particular state of existence.