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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 10: Chapter 78: Verses 28-40
Being on a pilgrimage, Sri Balarama had desisted even from the work of slaying the unrighteous in battle. Yet, with these words He struck the Suta with the end of a Kusa grass, which He held in His hand, which caused the instantaneous death of the Suta. This was how it was destined to be; nobody could avert it. All the sages cried out in distress when they saw the Suta fall before them. Addressing Sri Balarama, who was another manifestation of the Supreme Deity, they said, " 0 Lord, You have committed an unrighteous act. It was we who offered him the elevated seat of a Brahmana and vouchsafed him an unwearied existence for the time this assembly remained in session. Thus You have unknowingly perpetrated an act which is equivalent to killing a Brahmana. We know You are a master of Yoga and transcend the authority of the Vedas. But you have descended on earth in order to purify the world. Should You of Your own accord make some expiation for the sin of killing a Brahmana, You will thereby set a noble example before the world." Bhagavan Sri Balarama said : I shall certainly make some atonement for this sin in order to teach a lesson to the world. Please lay down the best form of expiation for Me. Through Yogamaya I can also vouchsafe to him a renewed span of long life, energy and soundness of body and the senses and whatever else you desire.
Tell me, what can I do for him? The Sages said : (Lord Balarama!) kindly devise some means by which the infallibility of Your weapon and Your prowess, and the inevitability of his death may not be compromised and the boon granted by us may also be vindicated. Bhagavan Sri Balarama said : Worshipful sages, the Vedas declare that one's own self is reborn as the son. Therefore, in place of Romaharsana, his son will expound the Puranas to you. I shall endow him with long life, energy and soundness of the body and the senses. If you desire anything else, pray tell me, I shall forthwith grant it. And please think over and tell me what will be the most appropriate expiation for the sin I have unknowingly committed. (For you know the subject full well. ) The Sages said : (Lord Balarama!) there is a terrible demon, Balwala by name, son of Ilwala, who comes here on every full-moon and new moon day, and outrages the sanctity of our gathering. He throws on us piths, blood, faeces, urine, wine and flesh. 0 Lord of the Yadus, be pleased to put an end to that monster. You will have thereby rendered the most valuable service to us. Then, for twelve months, please traverse the whole length and breadth of Bharatavarsa with a serene mind and take a plunge in its holy waters. That Will bring you purification from this sin.
Thus ends the seventy-eighth discourse entitled " A Prelude to the Destruction of Balwala, forming part of the narrative of Baladeva in the latter half of Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.
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