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

Vipracitti cùng vợ là Siṁhikā sinh được một trăm lẻ một người con. Trưởng tử là Rāhu, còn một trăm người kia gọi là Ketu. Tất cả đều đạt địa vị làm các hành tinh có ảnh hưởng lớn.

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.