*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 78-79.*
Balarama heard that the Kurus and Pandavas were making preparations for
a mutual fight. He belonged to neither side. So he went out on pretext
of a pilgrimage. He went to Prabhasa and performed the ablution
ceremonies. He went to several other places and at last reached the
Naimisha forest. The Rishis all rose up to receive him. Romaharshana,
the disciple of Vyasa, did not leave his seat. He belonged to the Suta
community, -- a mixed class, born of Kshatriya father and Brahmana
mother, -- but he took his seat higher than that of the Brahmanas.
Balarama thought that the Suta had learned the Itihasas, Puranas and all
Dharma Sastras from Vyasa but he had not learned humility and
self-control and that he had become proud of his wisdom. Balarama cut
off his head with the tip of a Kusa grass. The Rishis broke forth into
loud cries of lamentation. Addressing Balarama, they said: "O lord! thou
hast done a wrong. We gave him this seat of a Brahmana. We gave him age
and freedom from fatigue, till the Yajna was completed. Not knowing
this, thou hast killed one who was, while on his seat, a Brahmana. Thou
art not regulated by the Vedas. But of thy own accord, do thou perform
some Prayaschitta, and thereby shew an example to other people."
Balarama enquired what he was to do. The Rishi asked him to do that by
which their words as well as the act of Balarama both might prove true.
Balarama said: "One's son is one's own self. So say the Vedas. Therefore
the son of Romaharshana, Ugrasravas, shall be your reciter of Puranas.
He shall have long life and freedom from fatigue. What am I to do, O
Rishis, by which I may atone for my deed?"
The Rishis asked Balarama to kill Valvala, son of the Danava Ilvala, who
used to pollute the sacrificial ground on certain days of the moon. They
also asked Rama to travel all over Bharata Varsha for twelve months, and
take his bath at the sacred places.
Rama killed Valvala and went out on pilgrimage. On his return to
Prabhasa he heard about the death of the Kshatriya kings in the war
between the Kurus and the Pandavas. He went to Kurukshetra. Bhima and
Duryodhana were then fighting with each other with their clubs. Balarama
tried to bring about peace. But they did not heed his words. He then
returned to Dvaraka.
Balarama once more went to Naimisha and he was adored by the Rishis.