Shloka 55

Acyuta/Vāsudeva Stotra: Avatāra-Salutations, Ritual Totality, Forgiveness Prayer, and Phalaśruti

Devanagari script

जाति स्मरत्वं मेधावी यद्यदिच्छति चेतसा / स धन्यः सर्ववित्प्राज्ञःस साधुः सर्वकर्मकृत्

Transliteration

jāti smaratvaṃ medhāvī yadyadicchati cetasā / sa dhanyaḥ sarvavitprājñaḥsa sādhuḥ sarvakarmakṛt

Translation

真に聡明で、前世の生を想起できる者は、心の力によって望むものをことごとく得る。その人は福徳に満ち、万事に通じ、賢明で徳高く、あらゆる行いを成し遂げる。

Word by Word

• जाति: birth, caste (as remembered)
• जाति: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• स्मरत्वम्: the state of remembering
• स्मरत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मरत्व (प्रातिपदिक; स्मृ धातु-निष्पन्न भाववाचक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• मेधावी: an intelligent person
• मेधावी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेधाविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• यत्-यत्: whatever
• यत्-यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (यत्-यत् = whatever)

• इच्छति: desires
• इच्छति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चेतसा: with the mind
• चेतसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• स: he
• स: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• धन्यः: fortunate, blessed
• धन्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण (स)

• सर्ववित्: all-knowing
• सर्ववित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + विद् (प्रातिपदिक; विद् धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्राज्ञः: wise
• प्राज्ञः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• स: he
• स: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• साधुः: good, virtuous
• साधुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सर्वकर्मकृत्: performer of all duties/actions
• सर्वकर्मकृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + कर्मन् + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक; कृ धातु-निष्पन्न कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Jāti-smaraṇa (remembering former births) as a mark of medhā and as a catalyst for accomplishing desired aims through mental power.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃskāra continuity across births; heightened buddhi enabling purposeful pravṛtti; implicit affirmation of rebirth and karmic memory.

Application: Cultivate sattva (truthfulness, purity, restraint), study and contemplation to refine memory and discernment; use insight into past tendencies to choose wiser actions now.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (general): discussions of saṃskāra, rebirth, and the efficacy of mental resolve (saṅkalpa) in dharma/bhakti contexts

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of past-life memory (jāti-smaratva) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats past-life remembrance as a sign of exceptional intelligence and merit, leading to clarity of desire and effective accomplishment through the mind.

How does this verse connect karma and the mind’s power?

By implying that refined consciousness (cetas) shaped by prior impressions enables knowledge, virtue, and success in action—suggesting karmic conditioning supports mental mastery.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate mental discipline, ethical conduct, and study—so the mind becomes steady and capable, leading to wiser choices and more effective, dharmic action.