Shloka 3

Vyāsa’s Vision, the Power of Bhāgavatam, and the Arrest of Aśvatthāmā

Devanagari script

तस्मिन् स्व आश्रमे व्यासो बदरीषण्डमण्डिते । आसीनोऽप उपस्पृश्य प्रणिदध्यौ मन: स्वयम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

tasmin sva āśrame vyāso badarī-ṣaṇḍa-maṇḍite āsīno ’pa upaspṛśya praṇidadhyau manaḥ svayam

Translation

അവിടെ, ബദരി വൃക്ഷങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ട തന്റെ ആശ്രമത്തിൽ വ്യാസദേവൻ ഇരുന്നു; ശുദ്ധിക്കായി ജലം സ്പർശിച്ച്, മനസ്സിനെ ഏകാഗ്രമാക്കി ധ്യാനത്തിൽ ലീനനായി।

Synonyms

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; निर्देश (in that)

• स्वे: in his own
• स्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'āśrame')

• आश्रमे: hermitage
• आश्रमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बदरी-षण्ड-मण्डिते: adorned with a grove of jujube trees
• बदरी-षण्ड-मण्डिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बदरी (प्रातिपदिक) + षण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'adorned with a thicket of badarī trees'), पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'āśrame')

• आसीनः: seated
• आसीनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle used adjectivally: 'seated'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपः: water
• अपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (अप्-शब्दः), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• उपस्पृश्य: having sipped/touched (water)
• उपस्पृश्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; आचमनार्थक (having sipped/touched water for purification)

• प्रणिदध्यौ: fixed (his mind), meditated
• प्रणिदध्यौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नि-धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta-visheshana (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनः (reflexive/emphatic adverb: 'himself')

Purport

Under instructions of his spiritual master Śrīla Nārada Muni, Vyāsadeva concentrated his mind in that transcendental place of meditation.

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about purifying oneself before meditation?

This verse shows Vyāsa performing ācamana (touching/sipping water for purification) before steadying the mind—indicating that inner practice is supported by outer purity and reverence.

Why did Vyasa sit in meditation in his hermitage surrounded by badari trees?

The hermitage is portrayed as a sacred, sattvic setting (badarī groves) conducive to deep contemplation, where Vyāsa could withdraw from distraction and focus the mind within.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam teaching in modern life?

Create a clean, calm space; begin with a brief cleansing ritual (washing hands/face, sipping water, mindful breathing), then sit and focus the mind—consistency and a respectful routine strengthen concentration.