Shloka 22

Devanagari script

वालखिल्यास् तथैवैनं परिवार्य समासते

Transliteration

vālakhilyās tathaivainaṃ parivārya samāsate

Translation

So too the Vālakhilya sages, encircling him, remain seated around him in reverent attendance.

Word by Word

• वालखिल्याः: the Vālakhilya sages
• वालखिल्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालखिल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle, emphasis)

• एनम्: him/this one
• एनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद्/इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• परिवार्य: having surrounded
• परिवार्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (Gerund/Absolutive): ‘परि-वार्य’ = having surrounded

• समासते: they sit/are stationed
• समासते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Solar cosmology: attendants within the Sun’s sphere and their roles

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tapas and disciplined presence (upāsana-like attendance) are portrayed as sustaining cosmic order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice steady daily discipline—study, japa, or service—without agitation, like attendants who ‘remain seated’ in duty.

Vishishtadvaita: Suggests a cosmos upheld by conscious service and austerity, consonant with the world as a purposeful order under the Supreme.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vālakhilyas
• Sūrya (Āditya)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Vālakhilyas in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents them as an ascetic retinue who surround and attend the Sun, highlighting that cosmic functions operate through ordained sages who uphold universal order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Sun’s cosmic administration here?

By listing those who encircle and accompany the Sun, Parāśara frames the solar course as a regulated institution—maintained by specific classes of beings rather than a random natural motion.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when describing the Sun’s attendants, the Purana’s underlying theology is that such cosmic order is ultimately sustained by Vishnu as the supreme ground of governance and continuity.