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pubbenivāsaṁ

pubbenivāsa

accusative singular masculine of pubbenivāsa (noun)

1. previous life
2. former existence
3. past incarnation

Built from

• pubba — root · former, previous
  From *pṛ- (forward/before in time). Describes what is gone before.
• ni — prefix · down, into
  Intensifies the sense of being immersed or embedded in the past; here emphasizing dwelling placed back in time.
• vāsa — stem · dwelling, abode
  From √vas 'to dwell'; the abstract noun of habitation and residence.
• -ṁ — ending · accusative singular
  Marks the direct object; the past life is the object of recollection (smṛti).

Analysis. pubba- (former, previous) + ni- (down, into) + vāsa (dwelling, abode); literally 'dwelling in the past', a previous life or incarnation, typically used in the context of recollection of former births (pubbenivāsasmṛti).

Etymology. pubba derives from PIE *pṛ- (forward, before); vāsa from √vas 'dwell' (cognate with English wise in the sense of 'way of dwelling', and Latin vastus). The prefix ni- (down, into) intensifies the sense of 'dwelling embedded in past time'.

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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