Shloka 7
Garga Muni Names Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; the Butter-Thief Pastimes; Yaśodā Sees the Universe in Kṛṣṇa’s Mouth
श्रीगर्ग उवाच यदूनामहमाचार्य: ख्यातश्च भुवि सर्वदा । सुतं मया संस्कृतं ते मन्यते देवकीसुतम् ॥ ७ ॥
śrī-garga uvāca yadūnām aham ācāryaḥ khyātaś ca bhuvi sarvadā sutaṁ mayā saṁskṛtaṁ te manyate devakī-sutam
శ్రీ గర్గ ముని పలికెను—ఓ నంద మహారాజా, నేను యదువంశానికి ఆచార్యుడను; ఈ విషయం భూమండలమంతటా ప్రసిద్ధం. కాబట్టి నేను మీ కుమారుల సంస్కారాలు చేస్తే, కంసుడు వారిని దేవకీ కుమారులని భావిస్తాడు।
Garga Muni indirectly disclosed that Kṛṣṇa was the son of Devakī, not of Yaśodā. Since Kaṁsa was already searching for Kṛṣṇa, if the purificatory process were undertaken by Garga Muni, Kaṁsa might be informed, and that would create a catastrophe. It may be argued that although Garga Muni was the priest of the Yadu dynasty, Nanda Mahārāja also belonged to that dynasty. Nanda Mahārāja, however, was not acting as a kṣatriya. Therefore Garga Muni said, “If I act as your priest, this will confirm that Kṛṣṇa is the son of Devakī.”
FAQs
Because he was widely known as the ācārya of the Yadus; if he performed the saṁskāras for Nanda’s child, people would suspect the child was actually Devakī’s son, increasing danger from Kaṁsa.
Garga Muni’s public association with the Yadu dynasty was famous, so his performing formal rites for the boy would be taken as a strong sign that the boy belonged to the Yadus—i.e., Devakī’s line.
Act with discretion when circumstances are hostile—protecting dharma and the vulnerable sometimes requires quiet, thoughtful decisions rather than public display.