Verse 3.38 - The maximum and minimum lifetime of the human beings

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 3.38:

नृस्थिती परापरे त्रिपल्योपमान्तर्मुहूर्ते ॥ ३.३८ ॥

nṛsthitī parāpare tripalyopamāntarmuhūrte || 3.38 ||

The maximum lifetime of the human beings is three palyopama and the minimum is antarmuhūrta. (38)

Hindi Anvayarth:

अन्वयार्थ: मनुष्यों की उत्कृष्ट स्थिति तीन पल्य और जघन्य स्थिति अन्तर्मुहूर्त की है।

Anvayartha: manushyom ki utkrishta sthiti tina palya aura jaghanya sthiti antarmuhurta ki hai |

Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:

The maximum lifetime of the human beings is three palyopama. The minimum is antarmuhūrta. Between these two limits, there are many gradations. Palya is of three kinds–vyavahāra palya, uddhāra palya and addhā palya. These are significant terms. The first is called vyavahāra palya as it is the basis for the other two palya. There is nothing which is measured by this. The second is uddhāra palya. The continents and oceans are counted by the bits of the fibre (roma) of the ram drawn out from the uddhāra palya. The third is addhā palya. Addhā means duration of time. Now the first palya is described. Three pits of the extent of one yojana long, one yojana broad and one yojana deep, based on the measure of pramāṇāṅgula, are dug out. The first pit is filled tightly with the smallest bits of the fibre of the ram, born in uttama bhogabhūmi and from one to seven days old. The bits must be so small that these are incapable of being cut further by the scissors. The number of bits of the fibre in the pit is called ‘palya’^[1]. Now, these small bits of the fibre are to be taken out one by one; one piece in one hundred years. The time taken for emptying the pit in this manner is the time (kāla) of vyavahāra palyopama. Each bit of the fibre is again cut into so many pieces as there are instants in innumerable crores of years. And (imagine that) with such bits the second pit is filled tightly. The number of bits of the fibre is the uddhāra palya. Then these bits are taken out one by one every instant. The time taken for emptying the pit in this manner is called uddhāra palyopama. Ten crore multiplied by one crore uddhāra palya make up one uddhāra sāgaropama. The continents and oceans are as numerous as the bits in two and a half uddhāra sāgaropama. The third pit is filled with bits got from cutting each bit of uddhāra palya into the number of instants in one hundred years. This is addhāpalya. Then these bits are taken out one by one every instant. The time taken to empty the pit in this manner is called addhā palyopama. Ten crore multiplied by one crore addhā palyopama make one addhā sāgaropama. One descending cycle of time consists of ten crore multiplied by one crore addhā sāgaropama. The ascending cycle is of the same extent.

The duration of the karmas, the duration of particular forms, the lifetime, and the duration of the bodies of the beings in the four states must be measured by addhā palya. It has been said thus in the Scripture, “Vyavahāra, uddhāra and addhā must be understood as the three palya. Vyavahāra palya is the basis of enumeration. The enumeration of continents and oceans is by the second. The duration of karmas is reckoned by the third, addhā palya.”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The number of bits of fibre in the pit, called ‘palya’, is mentioned as: 413452630308203177749512192000000000000000000. (see ‘Trilokasāra’, verse 98)