Shaunaka Rishi was running a Gurukul having ten thousand students and he was honoured as kulapati (chancellor).
It is said that Shaunaka performed a 12-year-long Yajna at his ashram, which attracted a large number of learned men, who held incessant discussions about religion and philosophy.
He helped sages Romaharsha and Ugrasrava Sutha to spread the Puranas and Itihasa among a large masses.
The Shaunaka Mahashala is considered as the ancient form of university in the Indian Subcontinent by scholars.
[6] The Brahmin scholars in the ashram asked about Janamejaya's snake sacrifice with the sage Ugrashravas.