Influx of Karma (आस्रव)

कायवाङ्मनःकर्म योगः ॥१॥

The action of the body, the speech organ, and the mind is called Yoga — activity.

In Jainism, "Yoga" doesn't just mean stretching or exercise. It means any activity or movement. Whenever you move your body, say a word, or even just think a thought, you are performing Yoga. It is the natural vibration of the soul that happens through these three channels: body, speech, and mind.

स आस्रवः ॥२॥

This activity is Asrava — the influx of karma.

This activity is exactly what causes karma to flow into the soul. Imagine your soul is like a magnet. When you act, speak, or think, the magnet turns on. Tiny particles of karmic matter (which are all around us in the universe) are then pulled toward your soul. This process of "flowing in" is called Asrava.

शुभः पुण्यस्याशुभः पापस्य ॥३॥

Good activity leads to Punya — merit, and bad activity leads to Papa — demerit.

Not all karma is the same. When you do something helpful or kind (good activity), you attract "merit" (Punya) karma, which brings happy results. When you do something harmful or cruel (bad activity), you attract "demerit" (Papa) karma, which brings difficult results. Think of it like planting seeds: sweet seeds grow into sweet fruit, and bitter seeds grow into bitter fruit.

सकषायाकषाययोः साम्परायिकेर्यापथयोः ॥४॥

Influx is of two kinds: Samparayika — long-term for those with passions, and Iryapatha — transient for those without passions.

Karma sticks differently depending on your emotions. If you act while feeling angry, greedy, or proud (passions), the karma sticks to your soul like glue and stays for a long time (Samparayika). But if a person is completely calm and free of all passions, the karma comes in and immediately falls off, like dust hitting a dry, smooth wall (Iryapatha). It doesn't stick because there is no "glue" of emotion.

इन्द्रियकषायाव्रतक्रियाः पञ्चचतुःपञ्चपञ्चविंशतिसंख्याः पूर्वस्य भेदाः ॥५॥

The sticky influx has many causes: the 5 senses, the 4 passions, 5 non-vows, and 25 types of activities.

This is a big list of why karma sticks. It includes letting your five senses (sight, sound, etc.) run wild, feeling the four passions (anger, pride, deceit, greed), not following the five vows of non-violence and truth, and 25 other specific ways of acting. All these create the "stickiness" that keeps karma attached to the soul.

तीव्रमन्दज्ञाताज्ञातभाववीर्याधिकरणविशेषेभ्यस्तद्विशेषः ॥६॥

The strength of influx depends on intensity, mildness, whether it was intentional or accidental, your state of mind, your energy, and the tools you used.

Not every action has the same weight. If you hurt someone on purpose with great anger (intensity and intentionality), the karma is much stronger than if you did it by accident or with a soft heart. It's like the difference between throwing a ball with all your might versus just letting it roll. Your intention and the "energy" you put behind your actions decide how much karma you attract.

अधिकरणं जीवाजीवाः ॥७॥

The Adhikarana — substratum (foundation) of influx is both living beings and non-living things.

"Adhikarana" is just a fancy word for the platform or tools through which karma is created. You can create karma through living beings (like yourself or others) or through non-living things (like a weapon, a tool, or even your phone). Both are the "foundations" that allow actions to happen.

आद्यं संरम्भसमारम्भारम्भयोगकृतकारितानुमतकषायविशेषैस्त्रिस्त्रिस्त्रिश्चतुश्चैकशः ॥८॥

The living foundation is divided by how you prepare, start, and finish an action, whether you do it yourself, ask someone else, or just cheer it on.

Karma isn't just about what YOU do. If you plan a harmful act, start it, or finish it, you get karma. Even if you don't do it yourself but ask a friend to do it, or simply say "good job" when someone else does something bad, you are still part of the activity and attract karma. It's a very high standard of responsibility for our influence on the world.

निर्वर्तना निक्षेपसंयोगनिसर्गा द्विचतुर्द्वित्रिभेदाः परम् ॥९॥

The non-living foundation includes how things are produced, how they are placed, how they are mixed, and how they move.

Even non-living objects cause karma based on how we use them. Making a harmful tool (production), leaving a dangerous object in the middle of a path (placement), mixing things that cause harm (combination), or moving things carelessly all lead to the influx of karma. It reminds us to be mindful of how we handle the physical world around us.

तत्प्रदोषनिह्नवमात्सर्यान्तरायासादनोपघाता ज्ञानदर्शनावरणयोः ॥१०॥

Envy, hiding knowledge, jealousy of teachers, blocking others from learning, and disparaging wisdom cause Knowledge-obscuring and Perception-obscuring karmas.

If you try to block someone else's learning, or if you are jealous of someone else being smart, you attract karma that "clouds" your own mind. It's like putting a blindfold on yourself. Because you tried to hide knowledge from others, you end up making it harder for yourself to see the truth in the future. Respect for knowledge and teachers is the cure for this.

दुःखशोकतापाक्रन्दनवधपरिदेवनान्यात्मपरोभयस्थानान्यसद्वेद्यस्य ॥११॥

Causing pain, sorrow, agony, making others cry, injury, and wailing in yourself or others leads to unpleasant-feeling karma.

This is a very simple rule: what you give is what you get. If you make others suffer, or even if you wallow in your own misery in a way that creates more negativity, you attract "unpleasant-feeling" karma (Asata-vedaniya). This karma ensures that you will experience similar pain in the future. Compassion is the only way to stop this cycle.

भूतव्रत्यनुकम्पादानसरागुसंयमप्रभृतयः सद्वेद्यस्य ॥१२॥

Compassion for all beings, charity, and self-restraint lead to pleasant-feeling karma.

The opposite is also true. When you are kind, give to those in need (charity), and control your own impulses (restraint), you attract "pleasant-feeling" karma (Sata-vedaniya). This brings comfort and happiness. Even if you aren't fully liberated yet, being a good person makes your journey through life much smoother and more peaceful.

केवलीश्रुतसङ्घधर्मदेवावर्णवादो दर्शनमोहस्य ॥१३॥

Speaking ill of the Enlightened ones, the Scriptures, the Community, the Religion, and the Gods causes faith-deluding karma.

"Deluding" karma is the worst kind because it makes you lose your way. If you mock the truth or insult those who have found it (like the Kevali or the enlightened teachers), you create a barrier in your own mind. This karma makes you confused about what is right and wrong, making it very hard to find the path to happiness again.

कषायोदयात्तीव्रपरिणामश्चारित्रमोहस्य ॥१४॥

Intense emotions arising from passions cause conduct-deluding karma.

When you let your anger or greed take total control of your behavior (intense passions), you attract karma that makes it hard for you to behave well in the future. It's like developing a bad habit that becomes harder and harder to break. This karma "deludes" your conduct, making you do things you know you shouldn't do.

बह्वारम्भपरिग्रहत्वं नारकस्यायुषः ॥१५॥

Excessive worldly activity and massive attachment lead to life in the infernal regions (hell).

If a person spends their whole life constantly starting new projects for greed and hoarding as many things as possible (massive attachment), they are weighing their soul down. This "heavy" karma leads to a birth in a place of great suffering, like hell, where the environment matches the heaviness of their own mind.

माया तैर्यग्योनस्य ॥१६॥

Deceitfulness leads to life in the animal world.

"Maya" means trickery or being "fake." If someone is always being dishonest, wearing a mask, and trying to fool others, they attract karma that leads to an animal birth. Why? Because deceit is a trait that blocks the higher human qualities of honesty and transparency.

अल्पारम्भपरिग्रहत्वं मानुषस्य ॥१७॥

Slight activity and slight attachment lead to human life.

Being a human is a great balance. By keeping our needs simple (slight attachment) and not getting obsessed with endless worldly projects (slight activity), we keep our soul "light" enough to stay in the human realm, where we have the best chance to learn and grow.

स्वभावमार्दवं च ॥१८॥

Natural humility and mildness also lead to human life.

A gentle heart (mildness) and lack of ego (humility) are the "passports" to being a human. These qualities keep us connected to others and open to the truth, which is the whole point of being in a human body.

निःशीलव्रतत्वं च सर्वेषाम् ॥१९॥

Lack of character and lack of vows can lead to any birth (usually lower ones).

If someone has no rules for themselves — no "character" — they are like a boat without a rudder. They just drift wherever their impulses take them. This randomness usually leads down, not up, attracting karma that can land a soul in any of the less fortunate states of existence.

सरागसंयमसंयमासंयमाकामनिर्जराबालतपांसि देवस्य ॥२०॥

Restraint (even with some attachment), partial restraint, and immature penance lead to celestial life.

How do people become "Gods" (Devas) in Jainism? Not by magic, but by discipline. Even if you haven't reached perfect peace, doing things like fasting or following rules (penance) makes the soul very light and powerful. This attracts the karma that leads to a birth in the heavenly realms (celestial life).

सम्यक्त्वं च ॥२१॥

Right belief also leads to celestial life.

Having "Right Belief" (Samyaktva) — truly understanding how the universe works — is a huge positive force. It naturally attracts the best kind of life-karma, often leading to a birth in the heavens where one can continue their spiritual practice in a peaceful environment.

योगवक्रता विसंवादनं चाशुभस्य नाम्नः ॥२२॥

Crookedness of activity and deception lead to inauspicious name-karma.

"Name-karma" (Nama) decides what your body looks like and how you are perceived by others. If you are "crooked" — saying one thing but doing another — you attract karma that results in a body or a reputation that is unpleasant or difficult. Honesty isn't just a moral rule; it's what builds a beautiful "name" for your soul.

तद्विपरीतं शुभस्य ॥२३॥

The opposite (straightforwardness) leads to auspicious name-karma.

Being straightforward, honest, and transparent (the opposite of crooked) attracts "auspicious" (Shubha) name-karma. This leads to a healthy body, a pleasant voice, and a good reputation. When your inner world is simple and clear, your outer world becomes clear too.

दर्शनविशुद्धिर्विनियसम्पन्नता... तीर्थकरत्वस्य ॥२४॥

Sixteen specific reflections, including purity of faith and humility, lead to Tirthankara-name-karma.

This is the most special kind of karma! To become a Tirthankara (a supreme teacher), a soul must reflect deeply on sixteen things, like compassion for all living beings, devotion to the path, and constant learning. These reflections are so powerful that they attract the karma to become one of the 24 great guides of the universe.

परनिन्दात्मप्रशंसे सदसद्गुणोद्भावनविभावने च नीचैर्गोत्रस्य ॥२५॥

Censuring others and praising yourself cause low-status karma.

"Status-karma" (Gotra) decides your social standing. If someone is always putting others down (censuring) and bragging about themselves (praising self), they are actually lowering their soul's status. They attract karma that will put them in a humble or difficult social position in the future. Arrogance is a trap that leads to the bottom.

तद्विपर्ययो नीचैर्वृत्त्यनुत्सेकौ चोत्तरस्य ॥२६॥

The opposite (humility and lack of pride) leads to high-status karma.

Being humble, respecting others, and not being full of yourself (the opposite of bragging) attracts "high-status" (Uccair-gotra) karma. This leads to a life of respect and good standing. Real greatness comes from how you treat others, especially those who are "below" you in society.

विघ्नकरणमन्तरायस्य ॥२७॥

Causing obstacles for others causes obstructive karma.

"Obstructive" karma (Antaraya) is what stops you from getting what you want. If you intentionally block others from giving charity, from making a gain, or from enjoying themselves, you attract this karma. Later, when you want to do something good or enjoy something, you'll find "random" obstacles in your way. To have a smooth life, we should help others have a smooth life.