Uttarādhyayana Sūtra 33

The Nature of Karman

I shall now in due order explain the eight kinds of Karman, bound by which the soul turns round and round in the Circle of Births.

The eight kinds of Karman are briefly the following: 1. Gñânâvaraniya (which acts as an obstruction to right knowledge); 2. Darsanâvaraniya (which acts as an obstruction to right faith); 3. Vêdaniya (which leads to experiencing pain or pleasure); 4. Môhaniya (which leads to delusion); 5. Ayukkarman (which determines the length of life); 6. Nâman (which determines the name or individuality of the embodied soul); 7. Gôtra (which determines his Gôtra); 8. Antarâya (which prevents one's entrance on the path that leads to eternal bliss). (2, 3) 1. Obstruction of knowledge is fivefold (viz. obstruction to): a. Sruta, knowledge derived from the sacred books; 6. Abhinibôdhika, perception; c. Avadhigñâna, supernatural knowledge; d. Manahparyâya, knowledge of the thoughts of other people; e. Kêvala, the highest, unlimited knowledge.

2. The nine kinds of obstruction to right faith are: 1. sleep;. activity;. very deep sleep;. a high degree of activity;. a state of deep-rooted greed; 6-9 refer to faith in the objects of the first three and the last kinds of knowledge. (5, 6) 3. Vêdantya is twofold, pleasure and pain; there are many subdivisions of pleasure and so there are of pain also.

4. Môhaniya is twofold as referring to faith and to conduct; the first is threefold, the second twofold.

The three kinds of Môhaniya referring to faith are:. right faith;. wrong faith;. faith partly right and partly wrong.

· The two kinds of Môhaniya referring to conduct are:. what is experienced in the form of the four cardinal passions;. what is experienced in the form of feelings different from them.

The first kind of this Karman is sixteenfold, the second sevenfold or ninefold '.

5. Ayushka is fourfold as referring to 1. denizens of hell;. brute creation;. men;. gods.

6. Nâman is twofold, good and bad; there are many subdivisions of the good variety, and so there are of the bad one also.

7. Gôtra is twofold, high and low; the first is eightfold, and so is the second also.

8. Antarâya is fivefold as preventing:. gifts; 2. profit;. momentary enjoyment;. continuous enjoyment; and 5. power.

Thus the division of Karman and the subdivisions have been told. Now hear their number of atoms, place, time, and development.

The number of atoms of every Karman is infinite; it is (infinitely) greater than (the number) of fettered souls, but less than that of the perfected ones.

The Karman in the six directions of space binds all souls, and it binds the whole soul in all its parts in every possible way.

The longest duration (of Karman) is thirty Krores of Krores of Sågarôpamâs, and the shortest a part of a muhurta.

This holds good with both Avarantyas, with Vêdaniya and Antarâya.

The longest duration of Môhaniya is seventy Krores of Krores of Sâgarôpamâs, and the shortest a part of a muhûrta.

The longest duration of Ayushka is thirty-three Krores of Krores of Sâgarôpamâs, and the shortest a part of a muhûrta.

The longest duration of Nâman and Gôtra is twenty Krores of Krores of Sâgarôpamâs, and the shortest eight muhûrtas.

The number of perfected souls is infinite, and that of the subdivisions of Karman' is also (infinite); the number of atoms in all these (subdivisions) exceeds (the number) of all souls.

Therefore a wise man should know the different subdivisions of these Karmans, and should exert himself to prevent and to destroy them. Thus I say.