Shloka 24

Nārāyaṇa-Smaraṇa as the Supreme Dharma, Expiation, and Yogic Purifier

Devanagari script

यस्याग्रतस्तथा पृष्ठे गच्छतस्तिष्ठतो ऽपि वा / गोविन्दे नियतं चेतः कृतकृत्यः सदैव सः

Transliteration

yasyāgratastathā pṛṣṭhe gacchatastiṣṭhato 'pi vā / govinde niyataṃ cetaḥ kṛtakṛtyaḥ sadaiva saḥ

Translation

Wessen Geist unablässig auf Govinda gerichtet bleibt—ob Er vor ihm ist oder hinter ihm, ob er geht oder sogar stillsteht—der ist stets erfüllt, da er wahrhaft das zu Tuende vollbracht hat.

Word by Word

• यस्य: of whom/whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम् (pronoun)

• अग्रतः: in front
• अग्रतः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम्; स्थानवाचक-अव्ययम् (locative adverb)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (manner adverb)

• पृष्ठे: at the back/behind
• पृष्ठे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्

• गच्छतः: of (him) going / while going
• गच्छतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गच्छत् (शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक-कर्तरि-शतृ (present active participle); पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्

• तिष्ठतः: of (him) standing / while standing
• तिष्ठतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) → तिष्ठत् (शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक-कर्तरि-शतृ (present active participle); पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपात (particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• गोविन्दे: in/with regard to Govinda
• गोविन्दे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्

• नियतं: restrained/fixed
• नियतं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि+यम् (धातु) → नियत (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle used adjectivally); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; ‘चेतः’ इति विशेषणम्

• चेतः: mind/heart
• चेतः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• कृतकृत्यः: one who has accomplished what is to be done
• कृतकृत्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातोः क्त) + कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; ‘सः’ इति विशेषणम्

• सदैव: always
• सदैव: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय) + एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (temporal adverb)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Govinda) instructing Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nitya-smaraṇa (constant remembrance) of Govinda in all postures and activities yields kṛtakṛtyatā (life’s true completion).

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin-bhāva and ekāgratā: the mind anchored in Bhagavān transcends external conditions; fulfillment arises from God-centered consciousness rather than worldly attainments.

Application: Practice continuous nāma-smaraṇa or mantra-japa while walking, working, and pausing; use ‘before/behind’ as a cue to return attention to Govinda.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.230.25-28 (continuation on Vāsudeva-centered practice and obstacles)

Characters & Entities

• Govinda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of constant remembrance of Govinda in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that steady Vishnu-smriti (fixing the mind on Govinda in all postures and activities) is itself a complete spiritual accomplishment, leading to inner fulfillment and readiness for the final transition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing unwavering God-centered awareness, it implies that the soul’s journey is safeguarded and clarified by devotion; the practitioner becomes 'kṛtakṛtyaḥ'—spiritually prepared, rather than confused or fearful at death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Train daily attention to return to Govinda through japa, chanting, or mindful remembrance during ordinary actions (walking, working, resting), so devotion becomes continuous rather than occasional.