SB 1.7.2 (1962)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 2
Sri Suta uvacha
Brahmanadyam sarswatyam ashramah paschime tate
Shamyaprasha it prokta rishinam satravardhanah
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Sri Suta—of the name, Uvacha—said, Brahmanadyam—on the bank of the river intimately related with Vedas, Brahmins—saints and the Lord. Saraswatyam—of the name, Ashrama—cottage for meditation. Pashchime—on the west, Tate—bank, Shamyaprasha—the name of the place, Iti—thus, Prokta—said to be, Rishinam—of the sages, Satravardhana—that which enlivens activities.
TRANSLATION
On the western bank of the river Saraswati which is very much related with transcendental subjects like the Vedas etc., there is a cottage for meditation at Shamyamprahas which enlivens the transcendental activities of the sages.
PURPORT
For spiritual advancement of knowledge a suitable place and atmosphere is definitely required. The place on the western bank of Saraswati is specially suitable for this purpose. And there is the Ashram of Vyasdeva at Shayamprasha. Srila Vyasdeva was a householder and still his residential place is called Ashram. A ashrama means the place where the spiritual culture is continuedly made. It does not matter whether the place belongs to a householder or to a mendicant. The whole Varnashrama system is so designed that each and every status of life is called a Ashrama. This means that spiritual culture is the common factor for all. The Brahmachari, The Grihasthas, The Vanaprasthas or The Sannyasins all of them belonged to the same mission of life namely realisation of the Supreme. Therefore none of them were less important so far spiritual culture is concerned. The difference was a matter of formality on the strength of renunciation. The Sannyasins were held in high estimation on the strength of practical renunciation.