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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 2: Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Womb
10.2.11-1210.2.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.2.13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.2.1-2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

गर्भसङ्कर्षणात् तं वै प्राहु: सङ्कर्षणं भुवि । रामेति लोकरमणाद् बलभद्रं बलोच्छ्रयात् ॥ १३ ॥

garbha-saṅkarṣaṇāt taṁ vai

prāhuḥ saṅkarṣaṇaṁ bhuvi

rāmeti loka-ramaṇād

balabhadraṁ balocchrayāt

Translation

The son of Rohiṇī will also be celebrated as Saṅkarṣaṇa because of being sent from the womb of Devakī to the womb of Rohiṇī. He will be called Rāma because of His ability to please all the inhabitants of Gokula, and He will be known as Balabhadra because of His extensive physical strength.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Balarāma Is Also Known as Rāma

  1. 1

    The son of Rohiṇī is called Saṅkarṣaṇa because He is transferred from Devakī’s womb to Rohiṇī’s womb.

  2. 2

    He is called Rāma because He pleases all the inhabitants of Gokula. His extensive physical strength gives Him the name Balabhadra.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that there is no difference between Balarāma and Lord Rāma. Accepting Rāma in the mahā-mantra as Balarāma is therefore not artificial.

Key points from the purport
  • These are some of the reasons why Balarāma is known as Saṅkarṣaṇa, Balarāma or sometimes Rāma.
  • Here Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam clearly states that Balarāma is also known as Rāma (rāmeti).
  • Therefore, it is not artificial for us to speak of Lord Balarāma as Lord Rāma.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Terror → Wonder and relief. The threat of destruction yields to divine appearance.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 10: Threat from Kaṁsa and Kṛṣṇa's birth. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Womb

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

One may take auspicious strength from Him to become a devotee of the Lord, and therefore He is also known as Balabhadra. After Yoga-māyā transferred the seventh child of Devakī to the womb of Rohiṇī, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared within the heart of Vasudeva and transferred Himself into the heart of Devakī.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. garbha-saṅkarṣaṇātbecause He will be taken from the womb of Devakī to that of Rohiṇī
  2. tamHim (Rohiṇī-nandana, the son of Rohiṇī)
  3. vaiindeed
  4. prāhuḥpeople will call
  5. saṅkarṣaṇamby the name Saṅkarṣaṇa
  6. bhuviin the world
  7. rāma itiHe will also be called Rāma
  8. loka-ramaṇātbecause of His special mercy in enabling people in general to become devotees
  9. balabhadramHe will also be called Balabhadra
  10. bala-ucchrayātbecause of extensive bodily strength
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does learning the meanings of these names help me chant with more attention?

Practice

Chant the mahā-mantra once attentively, remembering that Balarāma is also known as Rāma.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.2's connections

Live this todayBalarāma Is Also Known as RāmaThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 10.2.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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