योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-3, chapter-3, verse-4

ब्रह्मणः प्राक्तनं कर्म यदा किंचिन्न विद्यते ।
प्राक्तनी संस्मृतिस्तस्य तदोदेति कुतः कथम् ॥ ४ ॥

brahmaṇaḥ prāktanaṃ karma yadā kiṃcinna vidyate ,
prāktanī saṃsmṛtistasya tadodeti kutaḥ katham 4

4. brahmaṇaḥ prāktanam karma yadā kiñcit na vidyate
prāktanī saṃsmṛtiḥ tasya tadā udeti kutaḥ katham

4. yadā brahmaṇaḥ kiñcit prāktanam karma na vidyate
tadā tasya prāktanī saṃsmṛtiḥ kutaḥ katham udeti

4. When there is no past action (karma) whatsoever for Brahmā (brahman), then from where and how would a previous memory (saṃsmṛti) arise for him?

Words meanings summery:

• ब्रह्मणः (brahmaṇaḥ) - of Brahmā, of the Absolute (brahman)

• प्राक्तनम् (prāktanam) - previous, past, former

• कर्म (karma) - action (karma), deed, work

• यदा (yadā) - when

• किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - anything, something, whatsoever

• न (na) - not, no

• विद्यते (vidyate) - exists, is found, is

• प्राक्तनी (prāktanī) - previous, past, former

• संस्मृतिः (saṁsmṛtiḥ) - memory (saṃsmṛti), recollection

• तस्य (tasya) - his, of him

• तदा (tadā) - then, at that time

• उदेति (udeti) - arises, comes forth

• कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where, whence

• कथम् (katham) - how, in what manner

Words meanings and morphology

ब्रह्मणः (brahmaṇaḥ) - of Brahmā, of the Absolute (brahman)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of brahman

brahman - Brahmā (the creator deity); the Absolute Reality, Supreme Being (brahman); sacred word, Veda

Note: Refers to the creator deity Brahmā.

प्राक्तनम् (prāktanam) - previous, past, former

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of prāktana

prāktana - former, previous, past, belonging to a former time

From prāk (before) + tana (suffix indicating time)

Note: Modifies 'karma'.

कर्म (karma) - action (karma), deed, work

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of karma

karma - action, deed, work, ritual, fate (karma)

From root kṛ (to do)

Root: kṛ

Note: Subject of 'vidyate'.

यदा (yadā) - when

(indeclinable)

किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - anything, something, whatsoever

(indeclinable)

Compound of kim (what) + cit (an indefinite particle)

Compound type : avyayībhāva (kim+cit)

• kim – what, who, which
  pronoun
• cit – even, also, indefinite particle
  indeclinable

Note: Functions as an indefinite pronoun modifying karma, treated as an indeclinable here.

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

विद्यते (vidyate) - exists, is found, is

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present (laṭ) of vid

Present Middle

Present tense, ātmanepada, class 4

Root: vid (class 4)

Note: The root 'vid' has different classes and meanings; this 'vidyate' is from 'vid' (to be).

प्राक्तनी (prāktanī) - previous, past, former

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of prāktana

prāktana - former, previous, past, belonging to a former time

From prāk (before) + tana (suffix indicating time)

Note: Modifies 'saṃsmṛtiḥ'.

संस्मृतिः (saṁsmṛtiḥ) - memory (saṃsmṛti), recollection

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of saṃsmṛti

saṁsmṛti - memory, recollection, complete remembrance (saṃsmṛti)

Derived from root smṛ (to remember) with prefix sam-

Prefix: sam

Root: smṛ

Note: Subject of 'udeti'.

तस्य (tasya) - his, of him

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Refers to Brahmā.

तदा (tadā) - then, at that time

(indeclinable)

उदेति (udeti) - arises, comes forth

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of udi

Present Active

Present tense, parasmaipada, class 2, with prefix 'ud'

Prefix: ud

Root: i (class 2)

कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where, whence

(indeclinable)

कथम् (katham) - how, in what manner

(indeclinable)