Shloka 17

The Orbit of the Sun, the Measure of Day and Night, and the Sun-God’s Chariot

Devanagari script

तथा वालिखिल्या ऋषयोऽङ्गुष्ठपर्वमात्रा: षष्टिसहस्राणि पुरत: सूर्यं सूक्तवाकाय नियुक्ता: संस्तुवन्ति ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

tathā vālikhilyā ṛṣayo ’ṅguṣṭha-parva-mātrāḥ ṣaṣṭi-sahasrāṇi purataḥ sūryaṁ sūkta-vākāya niyuktāḥ saṁstuvanti.

Translation

Ebenso gibt es sechzigtausend heilige Weisen namens Vālikhilyas, jeder von der Größe eines Daumenglieds; vor dem Sonnengott stehend, preisen sie ihn mit wohlgesetzten Lobgebeten.

Synonyms

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• वालिखिल्याः: the Vālikhilya sages
• वालिखिल्याः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālikhilya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अङ्गुष्ठपर्वमात्राः: (who are) only the size of a thumb-joint
• अङ्गुष्ठपर्वमात्राः: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṅguṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + parvan (प्रातिपदिक) + mātrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (adjective) of ऋषयः; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘अङ्गुष्ठस्य पर्व’ + ‘तत्-मात्र’

• षष्टिसहस्राणि: sixty thousand
• षष्टिसहस्राणि: Karta (कर्ता/number in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); संख्यासमास (dvigu)

• पुरतः: in front (of)
• पुरतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: puratas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb/postposition)

• सूर्यम्: the Sun
• सूर्यम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सूक्तवाकाय: for (uttering) well-spoken hymns/praises
• सूक्तवाकाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūkta (प्रातिपदिक) + vāk (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभाव: ‘सूक्ता वाक्’ (well-spoken speech/praise)

• नियुक्ताः: appointed, engaged
• नियुक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-yuj (धातु) → niyukta (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय past passive participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP), कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थ (passive sense): ‘appointed/engaged’

• संस्तुवन्ति: they praise
• संस्तुवन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-stu (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

Characters & Entities

• Vālikhilya Ṛṣis
• Sūrya (Sun-god)

FAQs

Who are the Vālikhilya sages in Srimad Bhagavatam?

In Canto 5, they are described as sixty thousand tiny sages (thumb-joint sized) appointed to stand before Sūrya and praise him with Vedic hymns.

Why are sages glorifying the Sun-god in Bhagavatam 5.21.17?

Śukadeva explains that Sūrya’s cosmic function is supported by dedicated attendants; the Vālikhilyas are specifically engaged to offer regulated Vedic praise as part of the divine order governing the sun’s course.

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 5.21.17 for modern life?

It highlights disciplined service (niyukta—being appointed and steady) and the power of sacred sound: consistent, reverent glorification of the Lord’s energies fosters gratitude, order, and devotion.