# बलराम (balarāma)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/balarama

बलराम (balarāma) is a Sanskrit word meaning the elder brother of Krishna and third of the Ramas, the half-brother of Krishna, Baladeva, name of the elder brother of Krishna. Its 8 recorded definitions are grouped into 4 contexts, among them Identification as Krishna's Brother and Divine Figure, Mahabharata References and Epithets, Puranic Biography and Deeds.

- **Etymology:** E. बल strength, रम to sport, aff. घञ् — E. bala strength, rama to sport, aff. ghañ
- **SLP1:** `balarAma`  **IAST:** balarāma  **Devanagari:** बलराम
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balarama
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/balarama/declensions.md

## Meanings by context

### Identification as Krishna's Brother and Divine Figure (5 definitions)
- the elder brother of Krishna and third of the Ramas  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H3) [Printed book page 723,1] बल (bala) — राम (—rāma) m. N. of the elder brother of Kṛṣṇa and third of the Rāmas (regarded as the 8th Avatāra of Viṣṇu, sometimes as an incarnation of the great serpent Śeṣa or An-anta; he is also called Bala, Bala-deva, Bala-bhadra, and Halāyudha, cf. Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams (Title) 332 &c.), MBh.; Pur. [ ID=143178 ]
- The elder half-brother of Krishna and eighth avatar of Vishnu.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > बल (bala) राम (balarāma) [Printed book page 600 ] बल (bala) राम (balarāma) m. ( - मः (-maḥ) ) The demigod named BALARĀMA, half brother to KṚṢṆA, and the third of the RĀMAS; according to some, the eighth Avatāra of VIṢṆU. E. बल (bala) strength, रम (rama) to sport, aff. घञ् (ghañ). [ ID=27649 ]
- the half-brother of Krishna  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > बलराम (balarāma) [Printed book page 538-a ] बल - राम (bala-rāma) ( मः ) ((maḥ)) 1. m. Balarāma; the half brother to Krishna. [ ID=27154 ]
- name of the elder brother of Krishna  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > बलराम (balarāma) [Printed book page 502-25 ] बल - राम (bala-rāma) m. name of the elder brother of Kṛishṇa. [ ID=26160 ]
- The demigod Balarama, half-brother to Krishna, the third of the Ramas, and according to some, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > बल (bala) राम (balarāma) [Printed book page 514-b ] बल (bala) राम (balarāma) m. ( - मः (-maḥ) ) The demi-god named BALARĀMA, half brother to KRISHṆA, and the third of the RĀMAS; according to some, the eighth Avatār of VISHṆU. E. बल (bala) strength, रम् (ram) to sport, aff. घञ् । (ghañ.) [ ID=28487 ]

### Mahabharata References and Epithets (1 definition)
- the elder brother of Krishna and incarnation of Shesha or Vishnu  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > बलराम (balarāma) [Printed book page 107-2 ] Bala-Rāma (the elder brother of Kṛṣṇa; incarnation of Śeṣa, or of a white hair of Viṣṇu; B. = Bala, R. = Rāma, B.D. = Baladeva, Hal. = Halāyudha, Rauh. = Rauhiṇeya Saṅk. = Saṅkarṣaṇa). [§ 11 (Parvas.): I, 2, 390 (R.). 596 (R.), 621 (R.), 624 (R.).]—[§ 132 (Aṃśāvat.) I, 67, 2786 (B.D.).]—[§ 210 b (Bhīmasena): I, 139, 5520 (Saṅk.).]—[§ 232 (Svayaṃvarap.): I, 186 α, 6997 (Saṅk.).]—[§ 233 (do.): I, 187, 7012 (Hal.), 7014 (R.); 189, 7079 (Hal.), 7080 (Saṅk.), 7084 (Hal.).]—[§ 234 (do.): I, 189, 7117 (B.D.).]—[§ 235 (do.): I, 191, †7155 (B.D.).]—[§ 238 (Pañcendrop.): I, 197, †7308 (B.D.).]—[§ 243 (Vidurāgam.): I, 205, 7507 (R.).]— Page108-a+ 63 [§ 244 (Rājyalābhap.): I, 207, 7548 (R.).]—[§ 252 (Subhadrāharaṇap.): I, 219, 7912 ( Haladharaḥ ); 220, 7953 (Hal.), 7954 (B.D.), 7955 (R.).]—[§ 253 (Haraṇā- haraṇap.): I, 221, 7987 (R.), 7998 (R.), 8000 (R.), 8015 (R., Lāṅgalī, Haladharaḥ ), 8022 (R.).]—[§ 273 (Rājasūyā- rambhap.): II, 14, 598 (“Kaṃsa and Sunāman have been slain by me and R.,” says Kṛṣṇa; Saṅk.); 15, 643 (R.).]— [§ 287 (Rājasūyikap.): II, 34, 1274 (R.).]—[§ 290 (Śiśu- pālavadhap.): II, 43, 1508 (Saṅk.), 1509 (R.).]—[§ 317 (Arjunābhigam.): III, 12, 502 (B.D.; °sahāyavān ), 595 (R.).]—[§ 320 (Saubhavadh.): III, 18, 744 (B.D.); 21, 833 (B.D.), 838 (B.D.).]—[§ 242 (Indralokābhigam.): III, 51, 1977 (R.), 1993 (R.), †2009 (R.).]—[§ 400 (Tīrthay.): III, 118, 10231 (R.), 10233 (R.).]—[§ 401 (Tīrthay.): III, 119 : B. wonders that the righteous Pāṇḍavas are so unhappy while the wicked Duryodhana is ruling the earth, which might make a person of limited sense believe a vicious life to be preferable to a virtuous one: [10240 ( vanamālī halī Rāmo )].—[§ 402 (Tīrthay.): III, 120, †10259 (R.), †10260 (R.), †10261 (R.), †10262 (R.), †10267 (R.).]—[§ 420 (Gandhamādanaprav.): III, 141, 10890 (Saṅk.).]—[§ 511 (Draupadī-Satyabh.): III, 235, 14736 (R.).]—[§ 549 (Pāṇḍavaprav.): IV, 6, 187 ( Saṅkarṣaṇa —C. Ś°—samānanā, i.e. Durgā).]—[§ 553 (Vaivāhikap.): IV, 72, 2356 ( Vāsudevo Vanamālī Halāyudhaḥ ).]—[§ 554 (Sainyodyog.): V, 1 α, †3 (R.), †4 (Rauh.); 2, (27) (B.D.); 3, 44 ( Lāṅgaladhvajaḥ ); 4, 66 (B.D.); 7 γγ, 131 (B.D.), 155 (Rauh.), 156 ( Śauriḥ ), (157) (B.D.), 162 (Hal.).]—[§ 561 b (Kṛṣṇa): V, 48, †1885 (B.D.).]—[§ 561 (Yānasandhip.): V, 55, 2177 (Saṅk.), 2197 (?R.).]—[§ 562 (Bhagavadyānap.): V, 80 ε, 2855 (R.); 90, 3218 (R.).]—[§ 567 (Bhagavadyānap.): V, 131 ο, 4425 (Saṅk.).]—[§ 569 (do.): V, 145, 4926 (R.).]—[§ 570 (Sainyaniryānap.): V, 157, 5330 (Hal.), 5335 (do.), 5336 (do.), 5349 (R.); 158, 5388 (Rauh.).]—[§ 581 (Bhīṣmav.): VI, 65 ξ, 2967 ( Saṅkarṣaṇaṃ devaṃ; B. sṛṣṭvā ); 66, 3012 (Saṅk.); 67 π, 3023 ( agrajaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ Saṅkarṣaṇaṃ ).] —[§ 588 (do.): VI, 121 α, †5797 (R.).]—[§ 589 (Droṇā- bhiṣekap.): VII, 11 ξ, 412 ( Vanamālī Halī R. ).]—[§ 592 (Saṃśaptakav.): VII, 23 ρ, 1042 ( Rohiṇīsutaḥ R., Raudraṃ dhanurvaraṃ śreṣṭhaṃ lebhe yaṃ Rohiṇī-sutaḥ | taṃ tuṣṭaḥ pradadau Rāmaḥ Saubhadrāya mahātmane ).]—[§ 599 (Jaya- drathavadhap.): VII, 110 σ, 4193 (R.), 4227 ( Saṅkarṣaṇa- samo bale ).]—[§ 600 (Ghaṭotkacavadhap.): VII, 181 δδδ, 8220 (Rauh.).]—[§ 604 (Karṇap.): VIII, 2 γ, 31 (R.).]— [§ 607 (do.): VIII, 41 ε, 1952 (R.).]—[§ 614 b : IX, 34, 1948 (Hal., R.; “his banner bore the device of the palmyra palm, and he owned the plough for his weapon,” PCR.).]— [§ 644 (Gadāyuddhap.): IX, 34, 1950 (R.), 1951 (R.), 1954 (Hal.), 1955 (Hal.), 1957 (Rauh.), 1959 (R., Rauh.), 1960 (R.), 1961 ( Halī ), 1964 (Rauh.), 1965 (R.).]—[§ 615 (Baladevatīrthay.): IX, 35, 1969 (R.), 1971 (R.), 1972 (R.), 1979 (Rauh.), 1981 ( Haladhara ), 1983 (Rauh.), 1984 (R.), 1994 (Rauh.), †2002 ( Halabhṛt ), †2004 (R.), 2061 (Hal.); 36, 2064 (Hal.), 2117 (Hal.); 37, 2119 (Hal.), 2120 (B.), 2128 ( Rohiṇī-sutaḥ ), 2129 ( Haladhara ), 2136 (B.), 2145 (Hal., B.), 2147 (B.), 2156 ( Lāṅgalī, B.), 2176 (R.), 2178 (B.), 2184 (Hal.); 39, 2246 (Hal., R.), 2247 ( Lāṅgalī ), 2248 (R.), 2249 (Hal.), 2252 (B.), 2272 ( Haladharaḥ ), 2280 (Hal.), 2284 ( Balabhadraḥ ); 40, 2314 (R.), 2316 (R.); 43, †2446 (B.); 46, 2724 ( Lāṅgalī ), 2725 (do.); 47, 2754 (do.), 2759 (B.), 2760 (R.); 48, 2762 (R.); 49, 2831 (B.), 2844 ( Lāṅgalī ); 50, †2924 ( Halabhṛt ); 51, 2926 (B.), †2978 (Rauh.); 52, 3006 (R., Mādhavaḥ ).]—[§ 615 kk Page108-b+ 63 (Kurukṣetrakath.): IX, 53, 3008 (R.), (3010 (R.)), 3011 (R.), 3029 (Hal.).]—[§ 615 (Baladevatīrthay.): IX, 54, 3038 (R., Hal.), 3045 (B.), 3046 (Hal.), 3052 (R.), 3055 (R.), 3057 (Rauh.), 3061 (Rauh.), 3064 (R.), 3067 (R.), 3068 (R.), 3072 (R.).]—[§ 615 (Gadāyuddhap.): IX, 55, 3078 (R.), 3079 (R.), 3080 ( Lāṅgalī ), 3081 (R.), 3104 (Rauh.), 3121 (R.); 60, 3342 (B.D.), 3343 (Rauh.), 3344 (R.), 3365 (R.), 3369 (Rauh.), 3370 (R.).]—[§ 616 (Sauptikap.): X, 9, 505 (R.).]—[§ 617 b (Brahmaśiras): X, 12, 638 (R.).]—[§ 641 (Rājadh.): XII, 122, 4471 (? R.).]—[§ 730 (Ānuśāsan.): XIII, 14 γ, 630 (R.).]— [§ 768 c (Kṛṣṇa): XIII, 147, 6860 ( Halī ), 6867 (R.), 6868 ( Lāṅgaladhārin )]: Having a plough for his weapon ( halī ) he will look like a white hill; he will be endowed with might capable of uplifting the whole earth; upon the chariot of that god a tall palmyra, a three-headed golden [palmyra-] tree, will form his standard; the head of that lord of all the worlds will be shaded with great snakes; [all] weapons of attack and defence will come to him as soon as he thinks of them; he is called Ananta; once Garuḍa, son of Kaśyapa, was addressed by the gods in these words: “Do thou see if this one has any end”; Garuḍa, however, failed to find out the end of this highest god ( devasya paramātmanaḥ ); supporting the earth on his head ( bhogena ), he resides in the nether regions ( antar vasati) = Śeṣa = Viṣṇu = [Bala-] Rāma = Kṛṣṇa (XIII, 147 ).—[§ 793 (Mausalap.): XVI, 1, 8 (R.), 20 (R.), 29 (R.), 32 (R.); 2, 43 (R.); 3, 62 (R.), 72 (R.), 104 (R.); 4, 105 (R.), 111 (R.), 112 (R.), 114 (R.), 116 (R.); 5, 142 (R.); 6, 172 (R.); 7, 207 (R.); 8, 261 (R.).]—[§ 794 (Mahāprasthānikap.): XVIII, 1, 10 (R.).] [ ID=1170 ]

### Puranic Biography and Deeds (1 definition)
- A son of Vasudeva and Rohini and an incarnation of Hari, also known as Baladeva, Balabhadra, or Sankarshana, famed for his immense strength, numerous heroic exploits alongside Krishna, pilgrimage during the Mahabharata war, and rule as king of Dvaraka.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > बलराम (balarāma) [Printed book page 2-463 ] Balarāma — a son of Vasudeva 1 and Rohiṇī and an amśa of Hari; (also Baladeva, Balabhadra, Sīrāyudha); the Dhāma of Hari in the womb of Devakī transferred to that of Rohiṇī by Yogamāyā; on account of this he is Sankar- ṣaṇa; also Rāma on account of his pleasant personality and Bala on account of his strength; his nāmakaraṇam; 1 was bewildered at Baka seizing Kṛṣṇa; became glad at his escape; entered the palmyra grove, vanquished the Asura Dhenuka and his kin and gladdened the cow-herds; advised Nanda and others to keep cool when Kṛṣṇa was enclosed in the coils of the reptile, and stopped their getting into the pool of Kālīya; his joy at Kṛṣṇa's escape from Kālīya; was carried by Pralamba on his back when he won in a certain game; but finding him to be an Asura in the guise of a gopa, he knocked his head with his fist and killed him for which the Devas praised him; 2 his surprise at Kṛṣṇa's holding aloft the Govardhana; was in charge of the women rescued by Kṛṣṇa from Śankha- cūḍa and was presented with the Cūḍāmaṇi of Śankhacūḍa. 3 Page2-464+ 42 Akrūra's expectation of Balarāma engaged in milking; Akrūra's prostration before him; welcomed Akrūra in the proper way and fed him on choice preparations; followed Kṛṣṇa to the Mathurā city where he was honoured by its womenfolk; saw Kṛṣṇa's exploits in the city and returned with him to the camp. 4 Entered the wrestling arena with the tusk of Kuvalayāpīḍa; praised by the public of Mathurā; challenged Malla Muṣṭika; fought according to the rules and killed his opponent as also Kūṭa another Malla; killed the eight brothers of Kamsa with his parigha; embraced Nanda going back to Vraja; his upanayana and other samskāras; gurukulavāsa; accompanied Kṛṣṇa in his tour to bring back the dead son of his guru; defeated Pauṇḍraka; while once enjoying music and drink, at Raivataka hill, he killed Dvivida (s.v.) who offended him; returned with the blessings of the Gods. 5 When the Yadus decided war with the Kurus, Rāma did not like it and thought he could bring about peace; went to Hastinagara and was welcomed by Duryodhana and others; he communicated to them Ugrasena's command to release Sāmba; the Kurus laughed and said that slippers would sometimes usurp the place of crown; Ugrasena was only a king by sufferance and hence he could not send a command; enraged at their inordinate pride, he decided to lift up the city and throw it into the Ganges; the Kurus prayed for mercy and promised to send Lakṣmaṇā with Sāmba together with a large dowry of horses, elephants, etc.; with these Rāma returned to Dvārakā; 6 was con- sulted by Kṛṣṇa; Kṛṣṇa took leave of him to go to Hastināpura; did not like the war between the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas and went on a pilgrimage; after visiting Prabhāsa, Sarasvatī, Yamunā, and Gangā he reached Nai- miṣa where he was welcomed by all the sages; Romahar- ṣaṇa the Sūta did not rise up to honour him at which Rāma got angry and fatally hurt him; seeing this the sages called it adharma and brahmahatya and called upon Rāma for Page2-465+ 41 expiation; Romaharṣaṇa's son was blessed; the sages asked Rāma to kill the Asura Balvala and go on a pilgrimage for a year when he could be purified; after killing Balvala, and receiving from the sages presents of Vaijayantī, clothes, and jewels, he went to Kauśikī, Sarayu, Prayāgā, the hermitage of Pulaha, Gomatī, Gaṇḍakī, Vīpāśā, Śoṇa, Pampā, Gayā, Mahendra where Paraśurāma was, Sapta- godāvarī, Veṇā, Bhīmarathī, and Śrīśaila; went to Veṅkaṭa, Kāñcī, Śrīraṅga on the Kāverī, and other sacred places; met Agastya in Malaya and came back to Prabhāsā by the west coast; went to Yudhiṣṭhira and was honoured; later went to Dvārakā; went again to Naimiṣa and took part in many a sacrifice; 7 welcomed Kṛṣṇa after the Kurukṣetra war; helped him in relieving the earth of the burden of the Daityas; went to Syamantapañcaka for the solar eclipse; joy at Vasudeva's sacrifice; honoured Nanda; 8 is said to have extracted the teeth of the Kalinga king, just as Vīrabhadra extracted Puṣan's teeth; 9 was killed by his own men, deluded by Kṛṣṇa; his wives entered the fire after his death; was said to have disappeared in the form of a reptile into the sea; 10 king of Dvārakā, married Revatī, the daughter of Kakudmin; father of Nisita and Uḷmuka; 11 went with Kṛṣṇa in pursuit of Satadhanus for the sake of the Syamantaka; 12 a pupil of Sāndīpani, helped Kṛṣṇa in recovering his teacher's son from Yama; 13 defeated Jarāsandha and other foes dur- ing the abduction of Rukmiṇī by Kṛṣṇa; 14 his gambling with Rukmin; 15 was drawn in a picture by Citralekhā; 16 besieged the Kaurava capital when Śāmba was liberated. 17 Page2-466+ 25 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. IX. 3. 33-6; X. 1. 8; 2. 8 and 13; 8. 11-13; Vi. IV. 13. 99; 15. 19; V. 8. 11; 9. 34; 17. 23; 18. 11 and 36.] [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. IX. 3. 33-6; X. 1. 8; 2. 8 and 13; 8. 11-13; Vi. IV. 13. 99. 15. 19; V. 8. 11; 9. 34; 17. 23; 18. 11 and 36.] [ Footnote: 2) Bhā. X. 11. 49, 53; 15. 28-38; 16. 22; 17. 15; 18. 3, 24-32; 26. 11.] [ Footnote: 3) Ib. X. 25. 30; 34. 20, 30-32.] [ Footnote: 4) Ib. X. 38. 23, 28, 32, 34, 37-40; 12. 10; 41. 19, 24, 29; 42. 23; XI. 12. 10.] [ Footnote: 5) Ib. X. 43. 16, 30, 40; 44. 1, 12, 19, 24-5, 26, 40-41; 45. 20, 26-36; 37-49; 66 [11]; ch. 67; Vi. V. 24. 8, 21.] [ Footnote: 6) Bhā. X. 68. 14-53.] [ Footnote: 7) Ib. X. 69. 31; 71. 13; 78 [95 (v) 26-7)], 17-40; 79. 5-32.] [ Footnote: 8) Ib. X. 80. [13]; XI. 1. 1; X. 52. 1-2; 84. 50, 59 and 68.] [ Footnote: 9) Ib. IV. 5. 21.] [ Footnote: 10) Ib. XI. 30. 22, 26; 31. 20; Vi. V. 37. 54. 7.] [ Footnote: 11) Ib. IV. 1. 91-6; V. ch. 25.] [ Footnote: 12) Ib. IV. 13. 96-107.] [ Footnote: 13) Ib. V. 21. 30-31.] [ Footnote: 14) Ib. V. 26. 58.] [ Footnote: 15) Ib. V. 28. 9-26.] [ Footnote: 16) Ib. V. 32. 24.] [ Footnote: 17) Ib. V. 35. 4-38.] [ ID=8920 ]

### Synonym (Baladeva) (1 definition)
- Baladeva  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > बलराम (balarāma) [Printed book page 360 ] बलराम (balarāma) m. = बलदेव (baladeva). [ ID=21824 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

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