# SB 5.21.17 > तथा वालिखिल्या ऋषयोऽङ्गुष्ठपर्वमात्राः षष्टिसहस्राणि पुरतः सूर्यं सूक्तवाकाय नियुक्ताःसंस्तुवन्ति ॥१७॥ ## Text > tathā vālikhilyā ṛṣayo 'ṅguṣṭha-parva-mātrāḥ ṣaṣṭi-sahasrāṇi purataḥ sūryaṁ sūkta-vākāya niyuktāḥ saṁstuvanti. ## Synonyms *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. ## Translation **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.**