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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 8: Lord Kṛṣṇa Shows the Universal Form Within His Mouth
10.8.1110.8.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.8.12

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Garga Munisince 10.8.12inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीगर्ग उवाच

अयं हि रोहिणीपुत्रो रमयन् सुहृदो गुणै: ।

आख्यास्यते राम इति बलाधिक्याद्बलं विदु: ।

यदूनामपृथग्भावात् सङ्कर्षणमुशन्त्यपि ॥ १२ ॥

śrī-garga uvāca

ayaṁ hi rohiṇī-putro

ramayan suhṛdo guṇaiḥ

ākhyāsyate rāma iti

balādhikyād balaṁ viduḥ

yadūnām apṛthag-bhāvāt

saṅkarṣaṇam uśanty api

Translation

Garga Muni said: This child, the son of Rohiṇī, will give all happiness to His relatives and friends by His transcendental qualities. Therefore He will be known as Rāma. And because He will manifest extraordinary bodily strength, He will also be known as Bala. Moreover, because He unites two families — Vasudeva’s family and the family of Nanda Mahārāja — He will be known as Saṅkarṣaṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Balarāma Brings Happiness, Strength and Unity

  1. 1

    The son of Rohiṇī would please His relatives and friends by His transcendental qualities. Therefore He would be known as Rāma.

  2. 2

    Because He would manifest extraordinary bodily strength, He would also be known as Bala.

  3. 3

    Baladeva united the families of Vasudeva and Nanda Mahārāja and was therefore called Saṅkarṣaṇa. These families shared the same original forefather, although they were divided as kṣatriya and vaiśya.

Key points from the purport
  • Garga Muni did disclose to Nanda Mahārāja that Balarāma would be known as Saṅkarṣaṇa because of uniting two families — the yadu-vaṁśa and the vaṁśa of Nanda Mahārāja — one of which was known as kṣatriya and the other as vaiśya.
  • So although the families of Nanda Mahārāja and Vasudeva both came from the same father, they were divided as kṣatriya and vaiśya.
  • Now Baladeva united them, and therefore He was known as Saṅkarṣaṇa.

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

Worry and play → Parental tenderness. The Supreme becomes the beloved child of His devotees.

Chapters 5–11 of Canto 10: Gokula, Yaśodā and the infant Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 8: Lord Kṛṣṇa Shows the Universal Form Within His Mouth

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Because Balarāma, the son of Rohiṇī, increases the transcendental bliss of others, His name is Rāma, and because of His extraordinary strength, He is called Baladeva. He attracts the Yadus to follow His instructions, and therefore His name is Saṅkarṣaṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-gargaḥ uvācaGarga Muni said
  2. ayamthis
  3. hiindeed
  4. rohiṇī-putraḥthe son of Rohiṇī
  5. ramayanpleasing
  6. suhṛdaḥall His friends and relatives
  7. guṇaiḥby transcendental qualities
  8. ākhyāsyatewill be called
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.8

    In this verse: “nanda”, “child”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.8

    In this verse: “friends”

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 do these names help me appreciate Balarāma’s transcendental qualities?

Practice

Today, recall the names Rāma, Bala and Saṅkarṣaṇa, and say what each name reveals about Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBalarāma Brings Happiness, Strength and UnityThis 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 10.8.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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