Abhidharmasamuccaya of Asaga [AS 53,3-4] Two Kinds of Action karma katamat/ cetankarma What is action (karman)?

It is the action that is intention cetayitv ca karma sakiptam (cetan) and the action after having intended (cetayitv). karmalakaam// [That is] the condensed definition of action. [AS 53,4-5] Five Kinds of Action api khalu pacavidha karma/ Moreover, action is also of five kinds: the action that is upalabdhikarma kritrakarma perception (upalabdhikarman), the action that is efficacy vyavasyakarma pariatikarma (kritrakarman), the action that is determination prptikarma ca/ (vyavasyakarman), the action that is transformation (pariatikarman), and the action that is obtainment (prptikarman).

[ASBh 63,6-7] The Action That Is Perception [ASBh 63,7-8] The Action That is Efficacy

upalabdhikarma cakurdin rpadarandi/ upalabdhikarman

The action that is perception consists in the seeing of visible matter (rpa) with the eye and so on. The action that is efficacy consists in the supporting of the earth, and so on or whatever is the function that makes up the peculiar characteristic (svalakaa) of anything. For example, [The peculiar characteristic] of matter (rpa) is deformation (rpa), and so on. The action that is determination is action of the body and so on that is preceded by an aim. The action that is transformation are the ornaments and so on of the goldsmiths, etc.

kritrakarma pthivydn dhradi yad v yasya svalakaaktyam/ tadyath rpa rpasyety evamdi/

[ASBh 63,8-9] The Action That is Determination

vyavasyakarmbhisadhiprvaka kydikarma/ pariatikarma suvarakrdnm alakrdi/

[ASBh 63,9] The Action That is Transformation [ASBh 63,9-10] The Action That is Obtainment

prptikarmryamrgdn The action that is obtainment consists in the attainment of nirvdhigamdi// nirva [as the effect] of the Noble Path and so on. [AS 53,5] The Five Kinds of Action in the Context of the Karman Doctrine asmis tv arthe yadbhyas In this context, however, the action that is determination vyavasyakarmbhipretam// is meant mainly.

[ASBh 63, 10-11] The Five Kinds of Action in the Context of Karman Doctrine: Explanation

asmis tv arthe yadbhyas vyavasyakarmbhipretam iti prpti kritrakarmaor api sabhavt//

In this context, however, the action that is determination is meant mainly. [That has been stated] because the action that is obtainment and the action that is efficacy do occur [here] also. [AS 53,6] Three Kinds of Intention cetankarma katamat/ What is the action of intention (cetan-karman)? It is an cittbhisaskro manaskarma/ action of the mind that is a thought impulse. It is puyam apuyam nijya ca// meritorious, demeritorious, or [leading to] immovability. [AS 53, 6-7] Three Kinds of Action after Having Intended cetayitv karma katamat/ kyakarma What is the action after having intended? It is bodily, vkkarma manaskarma ca/ verbal and mental action. [AS 53,7-8) Two Kinds of Action after Having Intended tni puna kyavmanaskarmi Moreover, those actions of body, speech and mind are kualny akualni ca/ [either] wholesome (kuala) or unwholesome (akuala).

[AS 53,8-10] Ten Kinds of Unwholesome Action akualni dakual karmapath Unwholesome [actions] are the ten unwholesome paths of tadyath prtiptodattna action (karmapatha), namely: killing, taking what has not kmamithycro mvda paiunbeen given, sexual misconduct, lying, slander, harsh ya pruyam sabhinnapralpowords, idle prattle, covetousness, harmful intent and bhidhy vypdo mithydica/ wrong view. [AS 53,10-13] Ten Kinds of Wholesome Action kualni daa kual karmapath/ Wholesome are the ten wholesome paths of action, tadyath prtiptd viratir yvad namely, abstaining from killing [etc.,] up to abstaining sabhinnapralpd viratir anabhifrom idle prattle, as well as absence of covetousness, dhyvypda samyagdica// absence of harmful intent and right view.

[ASBh 63, 12-14] The Ten Paths of Action Representative of Karman

kydikarma karmapath iti strnusrea yathpradhna nirdeo veditavyas tatprayogdnm api kydikarmtarbhvt/ traya catvras traya ca karmapath yathkrama kyavmanakarmalaka veditavy//

That bodily action and so on are the paths of action [as taught in the AS] is to be understood as an exposition following their importance, in accordance with the stras. [This is] because the preparation and so on of those [ten paths of action] are [strictly speaking] contained in bodily action and so on, too. The three, four and three paths of action are, in this order, to be understood as having bodily, vocal and mental action [respectively] as their characteristics. [AS 53,13-14] Five Aspects of the Ten Paths of Action prtiptdn lakaa vastuta The characteristics of killing and so on are also to be ayata (nihgamana). understood from [the viewpoints of] object (vastu), prayogata kleato nihgamanata disposition (aya), preparation (prayoga), defilement cpi veditavyam// (klesa) and completion (nihgamana).

[ASBh 63,14-15] First Aspect: Object of the Paths of Action

prtiptdnm vastu-sattvasakhytam asattvasakhyta v yathyogyam yad adhihya prtiptdaya pravartante/ aya tatra vastuni tatsajayas tatkarmapathakriyecchaya ca/

[ASBh 63,16] Second Aspect: Disposition of the Paths of Action

For killing and so on, the object is either what is considered a sentient being or what is not considered a sentient being-as appropriate-based on which killing and so on occur. The disposition is (a.) the disposition [that consists in] the apperception of that object as that and (b.) the disposition [that consists in] the wish to do that path of action. The preparation is the beginning with body, speech and mind-either by oneself or through others-for the sake of that action. The defilement is greed, hatred and delusion-as appropriate-either combined (samasta) or singly (vyasta). The completion is the fulfilment of this or that action by means of this or that preparation-either at that time or later.

[ASBh 63,16-17] Third Aspect: Preparation for the Paths of Action

prayogas tat-kriyyai svaya parair v kyavmanobhirrambha/

[ASBh 63,17-18] Fourth Aspect: Defilement of the Paths of Action

kleo lobhadvea moh yathyoga samastavyast

[ASBh 63,18-19] Fifth Aspect: Completion of the Paths of Action

nihgamana tena tena prayogena tasya tasya karmaa paripra tatklam urdhvakla v/

[ASBh 63,19-22] The Five Aspects in the Case of Killing Here, the object of killing is a sentient being. The disposition consists in the intention (abhiprya) to kill [it] in a person who is aware of that [sentient being] as that (i.e. as a sentient being). The preparation is [carried out] by means of a weapon and so on, for the sake of killing. The defilement is greed, and so on. The completion is the dying (maraa) of that living being as the result of that preparation, either immediately or later.