Garga Muni Names Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; the Butter-Thief Pastimes; Yaśodā Sees the Universe in Kṛṣṇa’s Mouth
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
Garga Muni berkata: “Anak Rohiṇī ini akan menggembirakan sahabat dan kerabatnya dengan sifat-sifat rohaninya; maka Dia akan dikenali sebagai Rāma. Kerana menzahirkan kekuatan jasmani yang luar biasa, Dia juga dipanggil Bala. Lagi pula, kerana Dia menyatukan dua keluarga—keluarga Yadu (Vasudeva) dan keluarga Nanda Mahārāja—Dia juga dipuji sebagai Saṅkarṣaṇa.”
Baladeva was actually the son of Devakī, but He was transferred from Devakī’s womb to that of Rohiṇī. This fact was not disclosed. According to a statement in the Hari-vaṁśa:
This verse explains that He is called Rāma because He delights His well-wishers with His virtues, Bala because of His exceptional strength, and Saṅkarṣaṇa because He becomes inseparably united with the Yadus.
Garga Muni speaks during the naming ceremony in Nanda’s community, describing the auspicious names and qualities of Rohiṇī’s son, Balarāma.
Cultivate virtues that bring joy to others (Rāma), develop inner strength to uphold dharma (Bala), and stay loyally connected to saintly community and service (Saṅkarṣaṇa).