asya pūrvāparāpekṣo vyavahāraḥ, yasya pūrvam evāsti nāparaḥ so 'nāgataḥ, yasya pūrvam asti aparaṃ ca sa vartamānaḥ, yasyāparameva na pūrvaṃ so 'tīta ityete catvāraḥ sarve 'stivādā bhāvalakṣaṇāvasthānyathānyathikasaṃjñitāḥ /
This usage depends on before and after: that which has only a before [but] no after is future, that which has both a before and after is present, that which has only an after [but] no before is past. These four are all Realists (Astivādins), known [respectively] as [proponents of change in] modes (bhāva), characteristics (lakṣaṇa), states (avasthā), and mutual difference (anyathānyathika).