Shloka 13
The Lord’s Advent: Yoga-māyā’s Mission, Saṅkarṣaṇa’s Transfer, and the Demigods’ Prayers
गर्भसङ्कर्षणात् तं वै प्राहु: सङ्कर्षणं भुवि । रामेति लोकरमणाद् बलभद्रं बलोच्छ्रयात् ॥ १३ ॥
garbha-saṅkarṣaṇāt taṁ vai prāhuḥ saṅkarṣaṇaṁ bhuvi rāmeti loka-ramaṇād balabhadraṁ balocchrayāt
The son of Rohiṇī will be famed on earth as Saṅkarṣaṇa, for He was drawn from Devakī’s womb into Rohiṇī’s. He will be called Rāma because He delights the people of Gokula, and Balabhadra because of His vast bodily strength.
These are some of the reasons why Balarāma is known as Saṅkarṣaṇa, Balarāma or sometimes Rāma. In the mahā-mantra — Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare — people sometimes object when Rāma is accepted as Balarāma. But although devotees of Lord Rāma may object, they should know that there is no difference between Balarāma and Lord 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. Jayadeva Gosvāmī also speaks of three Rāmas: Paraśurāma, Raghupati Rāma and Balarāma. All of them are Rāmas.
FAQs
This verse explains that He is called Saṅkarṣaṇa because He was “drawn” from Devakī’s womb and transferred—hence the name connected with the act of saṅkarṣaṇa (drawing/transporting).
Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates these names while describing the divine arrangements surrounding the appearance of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.
By remembering and chanting the Lord’s names with their meanings—seeing each name as a doorway to His qualities—devotees deepen faith, gratitude, and steady bhakti.