Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.21.17
तथा वालिखिल्या ऋषयोऽङ्गुष्ठपर्वमात्रा: षष्टिसहस्राणि पुरत: सूर्यं सूक्तवाकाय नियुक्ता: संस्तुवन्ति ॥ १७ ॥
tathā vālikhilyā ṛṣayo ’ṅguṣṭha-parva-mātrāḥ ṣaṣṭi-sahasrāṇi purataḥ sūryaṁ sūkta-vākāya niyuktāḥ saṁstuvanti.
[tathaa vaalikhilyaa rishayo ’ngushtha-parva-maatraah shashti-sahasraani puratah sooryam sookta-vaakaaya niyuktaah samstuvanti.]
Word-for-word
tathā
—
there
vālikhilyāḥ
—
Vālikhilyas
ṛṣayaḥ
—
great sages
aṅguṣṭha-parva-mātrāḥ
—
whose size is that of a thumb
ṣaṣṭi-sahasrāṇi
—
sixty thousand
purataḥ
—
in front
sūryam
—
the sun-god
su-ukta-vākāya
—
for speaking eloquently
niyuktāḥ
—
engaged
saṁstuvanti
—
offer prayers.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tathā vālikhilyā ṛṣayo ’ṅguṣṭha-parva-mātrāḥ ṣaṣṭi-sahasrāṇi purataḥ sūryaṁ sūkta-vākāya niyuktāḥ saṁstuvanti.
tathā
there
vālikhilyāḥ
Vālikhilyas
ṛṣayaḥ
great sages
aṅguṣṭha-parva-mātrāḥ
whose size is that of a thumb
ṣaṣṭi-sahasrāṇi
sixty thousand
purataḥ
in front
sūryam
the sun-god
su-ukta-vākāya
for speaking eloquently
niyuktāḥ
engaged
saṁstuvanti
offer prayers.
There are sixty thousand saintly persons named Vālikhilyas, each the size of a thumb, who are located in front of the sun-god and who offer him eloquent prayers of glorification.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Sixty thousand sages named Vālikhilyas, each the size of a thumb, located in front of the sun-god, offer him eloquent prayers.
Sūkta-vākāya means “with well-spoken prayers.”
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Sixty thousand thumb-sized sages glorify the sun with eloquent prayers. The smallest beings can offer the most eloquent praise. Don't dismiss your prayer because of your apparent size; small voices well-aimed are still heard.
Reflection Questions
- Have I felt my prayer was 'too small to matter'?
- What if even thumb-sized sages offer eloquent prayer — what excuse remains for my silence?
My note
Source: vedabase.io