Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 37

Dakṣa’s Daughters, Cosmic Lineages, and the Population of the Three Worlds

Devanagari script

विप्रचित्ति: सिंहिकायां शतं चैकमजीजनत् । राहुज्येष्ठं केतुशतं ग्रहत्वं य उपागता: ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

vipracittiḥ siṁhikāyāṁ śataṁ caikam ajījanat rāhu-jyeṣṭhaṁ ketu-śataṁ grahatvaṁ ya upāgatāḥ

Translation

ವಿಪ್ರಚಿತ್ತಿಯು ತನ್ನ ಪತ್ನಿ ಸಿಂಹಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ನೂರೊಂದು ಪುತ್ರರನ್ನು ಪಡೆದನು. ಅವರಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿರಿಯನು ರಾಹು; ಉಳಿದ ನೂರು ಮಂದಿ ಕೇತುಗಳು. ಅವರು ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಪ್ರಭಾವಶಾಲಿ ಗ್ರಹಪದವನ್ನು ಪಡೆದರು.

Synonyms

• vipracittiḥ: Vipracitti
• vipracittiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipracitti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); proper name

• siṁhikāyām: in Siṁhikā (his wife)
• siṁhikāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṁhikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Saptamī (Loc. 7), Ekavacana (sg.)

• śatam: a hundred
• śatam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकliṅga (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.); numeral used substantively

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samucchaya-nipāta (conjunction)

• ekam: one (more)
• ekam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकliṅga (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.); numeral adjective qualifying (implicit) putram/apatyam

• ajījanat: begot/produced
• ajījanat: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/past), Parasmaipada; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana (sg.); causative not intended here: ‘he begot’

• rāhu-jyeṣṭham: with Rāhu as the eldest
• rāhu-jyeṣṭham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāhu + jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakliṅga (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.); तत्पुरुष: ‘rāhuḥ jyeṣṭhaḥ yasya’/‘rāhu-jyeṣṭha’ = having Rāhu as the eldest (qualifying the group/offspring)

• ketu-śatam: a hundred Ketus
• ketu-śatam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ketu + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakliṅga (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.); द्विगु: ‘ketu-śatam’ = a hundred (named) Ketus

• grahatvam: planetary status
• grahatvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: graha + tva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakliṅga (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.); भाववाचक -tva; ‘graha-tva’ = status of being planets

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana (pl.); relative pronoun referring to the offspring

• upāgatāḥ: attained/obtained
• upāgatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√gam (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: past active participle (kta/क्त) used adjectivally; Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana (pl.)

Characters & Entities

• Vipracitti
• Siṁhikā
• Rāhu
• Ketu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the origin of Rāhu and Ketu?

This verse states that Vipracitti and Siṁhikā had 101 sons: Rāhu as the eldest, and the other hundred known as Ketu, who attained the status of grahas (celestial influencers/planets).

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam Canto 6 Chapter 6?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse while describing the genealogies arising from Dakṣa’s descendants, including notable beings connected with cosmic administration.

What is a practical takeaway from the Bhagavatam’s mention of grahas like Rāhu and Ketu?

The verse reminds a devotee that cosmic forces are also within divine order; rather than fear, one can cultivate steadiness through dharma and bhakti, seeing all influences as ultimately under the Supreme Lord’s control.