Muni's PlayTen Perfections (Dasa Pāramitā)
According to the Madhyanta Vibhaga Karika (Chapter 5, Verses 5-7), there are ten perfections and their corresponding functions or results.
The Ten Perfections and Their Functions
| # | Perfection (Sanskrit [Transliteration]) | Function/Result (Sanskrit [Transliteration]) | Meaning of Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | दान (Dāna) Generosity | अनुग्रह (Anugraha) Favoring/Benefiting | Actively benefiting others through the act of giving. |
| 2 | शील (Śīla) Ethics / Conduct | अविघात (Avighāta) Non-harming | Ensuring that no harm or injury is caused to living beings. |
| 3 | क्षमा (Kṣamā) Patience | मर्षण (Marṣaṇa) Endurance | The ability to bear hardships and remain unshakeable. |
| 4 | वीर्य (Vīrya) Energy / Vigor | गुणवृद्धि (Guṇavṛddhi) Growth of Virtue | The continuous expansion of one’s positive qualities. |
| 5 | ध्यान (Dhyāna) Meditation | सामर्थ्य (Sāmarthya) Capacity / Power | Developing the mental strength and focus for the path. |
| 6 | प्रज्ञा (Prajñā) Wisdom | अवतारविमोचन (Avatāravimocana) Entry & Liberation | Entering the truth and achieving freedom from delusion. |
| 7 | उपायता (Upāyatā) Skillful Means | अक्षयत्व (Akṣayatva) Inexhaustibility | Transforming merit so that it never runs out or expires. |
| 8 | प्रणिधान (Praṇidhāna) Vow / Aspiration | सदावृत्ति (Sadāvṛtti) Constant Activity | Ensuring that one’s spiritual work continues forever. |
| 9 | बल (Bala) Power | नियत (Niyata) Certainty | Reaching a state where progress is irreversible. |
| 10 | ज्ञान (Jñāna) Knowledge | भोगपाचन (Bhogapācana) Ripening of Enjoyment | The final transformation of experience into pure bliss. |
Scriptural Reference
These verses are extracted from Chapter 5 - Supremacy of the Vehicle.
Verse 5
Sanskrit Text
दानं शीलं क्षमा वीर्यं ध्यानं प्रज्ञा उपायता।
प्रणिधानं बलं ज्ञानमेताः पारमिता दश
Transliteration
dānaṃ śīlaṃ kṣamā vīryaṃ dhyānaṃ prajñā upāyatā
praṇidhānaṃ balaṃ jñānam etāḥ pāramitā daśa
Translation
Generosity (dāna), ethics (śīla), patience (kṣamā), energy (vīrya), meditation (dhyāna), wisdom (prajñā), skillful means (upāyatā), aspiration (praṇidhāna), power (bala), and primordial knowledge (jñāna)—these are the ten perfections.
Verse 6
Sanskrit Text
अनुग्रहोऽविघातश्च कर्म तस्य च मर्षणम्।
गुणवृद्धिश्च सामर्थ्यमवतारविमोचने
Transliteration
anugraho’vighātaśca karma tasya ca marṣaṇam
guṇavṛddhiśca sāmarthyama vatāravimocane
Translation
(The functions of these perfections are:) Favoring others (anugraha), non-harming (avighāta), the work (karma) (of the perfections), enduring that work (marṣaṇa), increase of virtues (guṇa-vṛddhi), and the capacity (sāmarthya) for entry and liberation (vimocana).
Verse 7
Sanskrit Text
अक्षयत्वं सदा वृत्तिर्नियतं भोगपाचने।
यथाप्रज्ञप्तितो धर्ममहायानमनस्क्रिया
Transliteration
akṣayatvaṃ sadā vṛttir niyataṃ bhogapācane
yathāprajñaptito dharmamahāyānamanaskriyā
Translation
(The functions continue:) Inexhaustibility (akṣayatva), constant activity, and the certain ripening of enjoyments (bhoga-pācana). Mental attention (manaskriyā) in the Mahayana Dharma is according to how it is designated (yathā-prajñapti).