Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 39

Genealogies of Svāyambhuva Manu, the Appearance of Yajña, and Atri’s Sons

Brahmā–Viṣṇu–Śiva Expansions

Devanagari script

क्रतोरपि क्रिया भार्या वालखिल्यानसूयत । ऋषीन्षष्टिसहस्राणि ज्वलतो ब्रह्मतेजसा ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

krator api kriyā bhāryā vālakhilyān asūyata ṛṣīn ṣaṣṭi-sahasrāṇi jvalato brahma-tejasā

Translation

Kriyā, die Gemahlin Kratus, gebar sechzigtausend große Weisen namens Vālakhilyas. Sie alle waren im geistigen Wissen weit fortgeschritten und leuchteten im brahmanischen Tejas.

Synonyms

• kratoḥ: of Kratu
• kratoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kratu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive/emphatic

• kriyā: Kriyā (name)
• kriyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhāryā: wife
• bhāryā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to kriyā

• vālakhilyān: the Vālakhilya sages
• vālakhilyān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālakhilya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• asūyata: gave birth to
• asūyata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• ṛṣīn: sages
• ṛṣīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); in apposition to vālakhilyān

• ṣaṣṭi-sahasrāṇi: sixty-thousands (60,000)
• ṣaṣṭi-sahasrāṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṣṭi + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); numeral-compound qualifying ṛṣīn/vālakhilyān (count)

• jvalataḥ: of blazing
• jvalataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jval (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); masculine/neuter gen. agreeing with brahma-tejasā (instrumental cause) as “of blazing (splendor)”

• brahma-tejasā: by Brahmanic splendor
• brahma-tejasā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): brahmaṇaḥ tejas

Purport

Kriyā was the sixth daughter of Kardama Muni, and she produced sixty thousand sages, who were known as the Vālakhilyas because they all retired from family life as vānaprasthas.

Characters & Entities

• Kratu
• Kriyā
• Vālakhilyas

FAQs

Who are the Vālakhilya sages mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam?

In this verse, the Vālakhilyas are described as sixty thousand ṛṣis born from Kriyā, the wife of the sage Kratu, renowned for their blazing brahminical potency (brahma-tejas).

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the births of sages in Canto 4 Chapter 1?

He is narrating the sacred genealogies connected to Svāyambhuva Manu’s lineage, showing how divine order and dharma are maintained through Prajāpatis and powerful ṛṣis.

What is the practical meaning of 'brahma-tejas' for modern life?

Brahma-tejas points to inner spiritual strength gained through purity, discipline, study, and devotion—cultivating a life that radiates integrity and wisdom rather than mere external power.