Shloka 2
Vyāsa’s Vision, the Power of Bhāgavatam, and the Arrest of Aśvatthāmā
सूत उवाच ब्रह्मनद्यां सरस्वत्यामाश्रम: पश्चिमे तटे । शम्याप्रास इति प्रोक्त ऋषीणां सत्रवर्धन: ॥ २ ॥
sūta uvāca brahma-nadyāṁ sarasvatyām āśramaḥ paścime taṭe śamyāprāsa iti prokta ṛṣīṇāṁ satra-vardhanaḥ
സൂതൻ പറഞ്ഞു—വേദങ്ങളോട് അത്യന്തം ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട ബ്രഹ്മനദിയായ സരസ്വതിയുടെ പടിഞ്ഞാറൻ തീരത്ത് ‘ശമ്യാപ്രാസ’ എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്ന ഒരു ആശ്രമമുണ്ട്; അത് ഋഷികളുടെ സത്രവും সাধനയും വളർത്തുന്നു।
For spiritual advancement of knowledge a suitable place and atmosphere are definitely required. The place on the western bank of the Sarasvatī is especially suitable for this purpose. And there is the āśrama of Vyāsadeva at Śamyāprāsa. Śrīla Vyāsadeva was a householder, yet his residential place is called an āśrama. An āśrama is a place where spiritual culture is always foremost. It does not matter whether the place belongs to a householder or a mendicant. The whole varṇāśrama system is so designed that each and every status of life is called an āśrama. This means that spiritual culture is the common factor for all. The brahmacārīs, the gṛhasthas, the vānaprasthas and the sannyāsīs all belong to the same mission of life, namely, realization of the Supreme. Therefore none of them are less important as far as spiritual culture is concerned. The difference is a matter of formality on the strength of renunciation. The sannyāsīs are held in high estimation on the strength of practical renunciation.
FAQs
This verse describes Sarasvatī as a supremely sacred river (Brahma-nadī) and places the sages’ āśrama on its western bank, emphasizing its sanctity for Vedic spiritual practice.
Śamyāprāsa is the name of the hermitage on the western bank of the Sarasvatī, famous for supporting and expanding the sages’ satra—extended sacrificial assemblies.
It highlights the value of creating a dedicated sacred space—like an āśrama atmosphere—where regular spiritual discipline and devotional practices can steadily grow.