Verse 2.53 - The lifetime of beings

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 2.53:

औपपादिकचरमोत्तमदेहासंख्येयवर्षायुषोऽनपवायुषः ॥ २.५३ ॥

aupapādikacaramottamadehāsaṃkhyeyavarṣāyuṣo'napavāyuṣaḥ || 2.53 ||

The lifetime of beings born in special beds–upapādajanma, those with final, superior bodies–caramottamadeha, and those of innumerable (asaṃkhyāta) years of age (āyuḥ [āyus]), cannot be cut short. (53)

Hindi Anvayarth:

अन्वयार्थ: [औपपादिक] उपपाद जन्मवाले देव और नारकी, [चरम उत्तम देहाः] चरम उत्तम देह वाले अर्थात् उसी भव में मोक्ष जाने वाले तथा [असंख्येयवर्ष आयुषः] असंख्यात वर्ष आयु वाले भोगभूमि के जीवों की [आयुषः अनपवर्ति] आयु अपवर्तन रहित होती है।

Anvayartha: [aupapadika] upapada janmavale deva aura naraki, [carama uttama dehah] carama uttama deha vale arthat usi bhava mem moksha jane vale tatha [asamkhyeyavarsha ayushah] asamkhyata varsha ayu vale bhogabhumi ke jivom ki [ayushah anapavarti] ayu apavartana rahita hoti hai |

Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:

The celestial and other beings have been described as of several kinds on the basis of birth (janma), seat-of-birth (yoni), body (śarīra) and sign (liṅga). Depending on the merit (puṇya) and the demerit (pāpa), they attain bodies for their lifetime in the four states of existence (gati). Do they attain their next body after living their full lifetime or even prior to it?

‘Aupapādika’ has been explained as celestial (deva) and infernal (nārakī) beings, born in special beds. ‘Carama’ means ultimate or final; ‘uttama’ means superior. Those endowed with final and superior bodies are ‘caramottama’. They are those beings who have reached the end of the cycle of births and deaths and will attain liberation in the same birth. Innumerable is that which is beyond numerable. Life of innumerable years, indicated by palyopama, etc., pertains to the animals and human beings born in the lands of enjoyment, such as Uttarakuru. ‘Apavartya āyuḥ’ is shortening of life by external causes such as poison, weapons, etc. Those whose lives can be cut short are having ‘apavartya āyuḥ’ and those whose lives cannot be cut short are having ‘anapavartya āyuḥ’. As a rule, the life of the celestial beings and the others mentioned in the sūtra cannot be cut short by external causes. There is no such rule for other living beings. The word ‘uttama’ in the sūtra is intended to indicate the superior nature of the final body, and there is no other special meaning.