Balarāma’s Brahmahatyā and Moksha
Balarāma, also called Baladeva, Saṅkarshaṇa and Halāyudha, is the elder brother of Kṛshṇa. This account tells how he killed a Sūta (a reciter of the Purāṇas) at Naimishāraṇya, and so took on brahmahatyā (the pāpa of killing a brāhmaṇa). It tells how he did prāyaścitta (the act of making amends) and how he was finally freed of the pāpa at Lakshmaṇa Tīrtha on Gandhamādana mountain in the Setu-kshetra.
The Skanda Mahā Purāṇa tells this in the Setu Māhātmya of the Brahma Khaṇḍa. It shows Lakshmaṇa Tīrtha as the best place to wipe out brahmahatyā. It does this even after a whole year of tīrtha-yātrā (travel to holy places) across all of Bhāratavarsha.
Balarāma leaves Kurukshetra
The great war at Kurukshetra was about to begin. Balarāma was in a painful position. The Kauravas and the Pāṇḍavas were both his kinsmen, his disciples and his loved family. Duryodhana was his student in gadā-yuddha (mace fighting). The Pāṇḍavas were his brother’s cousins. He could not fight against either side.
So Balarāma stayed away from the war. He went on a tīrtha-yātrā to the sacred rivers of the west. In this way he did not have to watch those he loved destroy each other.
The Sūta at Naimishāraṇya
On his journey Balarāma came to Naimishāraṇya, the great sacred forest. A gathering of ṛshis (seers) was performing a long yajña (fire ritual) there. The ṛshis honoured Balarāma and stood up to welcome him.
One person did not stand. This was a Sūta, who sat on a high brahmāsana (seat of honour). The ṛshis had given him that seat so that he could recite the Purāṇas. When Balarāma arrived, the Sūta did not rise. He did not join his hands in añjali (the greeting with folded hands) and did not offer a namaskāra (bow).
Balarāma was deeply offended. He said that a Sūta, who is of mixed birth, had no right to sit in a seat of honour above the brāhmaṇas and ṛshis. He said it was great adharma (wrong conduct) not to show respect to an honoured guest who had just arrived.
In his anger Balarāma raised his musala (pestle weapon) and struck the Sūta dead. The ṛshis cried out in distress. They told him that they themselves had given the Sūta the brahmāsana. They had also given him akshaya-āyus (undying life). The Sūta was under their care, and for this holy gathering he had the standing of a brāhmaṇa. So Balarāma had committed brahmahatyā.
Prāyaścitta at Naimishāraṇya
The ṛshis agreed that no one could punish Balarāma, because he is an avatāra. Even so, they asked him to do prāyaścitta for the good of the world. This would show that even the greatest beings must follow dharma and make amends. Balarāma accepted this with humility.
At once he used his yogic power to continue the Sūta’s line. A son was born from the Sūta’s body with the same life, senses, knowledge and power. In this way the line of those who recite the Purāṇas would go on.
Then Balarāma asked the ṛshis what more he should do. They gave him two tasks:
- Kill the rākshasa Balvala, who spoiled the yajña.
- Make a year-long tīrtha-yātrā across all of Bhāratavarsha.
Balvala is killed
Balvala was the son of Ilvala. He came to Naimishāraṇya again and again in the seasons of the yajña. He spoiled the sacred ground by showering it with bones, blood, ash and rotten flesh.
When the next yajña began, Balvala came down from the sky in his terrible form. Balarāma called up his divine weapons, the musala, the plough and the gadā (mace). He caught Balvala with the plough and dragged him down from the sky. Then he struck Balvala on the forehead with the musala and killed him.
The ṛshis rejoiced. They anointed Balarāma and gave him a divine garland.
The year of tīrtha-yātrā
Balarāma then spent a full year visiting the holy tīrthas of the western region. These included Sarasvatī, Bindu Saras, Brahmatīrtha, Gaṅgā, Yamunā, Sindhu, Śatadru and many others. At each one he bathed with proper niyama (discipline) and made the right tarpaṇa offerings (offerings of water).
At the end of the year, on his way back, he saw a dark shadow following him. He heard a voice from the sky say that his brahmahatyā was not yet fully destroyed. He went back to Naimishāraṇya and told the ṛshis.
The way to Lakshmaṇa Tīrtha
The ṛshis of Naimishāraṇya knew that his purification was not complete. They sent him to the best remedy. They said:
“O Rāma, go to Gandhamādana mountain at Rāmasetu. Lakshmaṇa Tīrtha is there. It destroys brahmahatyā completely. Bathe there, and your pāpa will be wiped out without doubt.”
Moksha at Lakshmaṇa Tīrtha
Balarāma went to the Setu-kshetra and came to Lakshmaṇa Tīrtha on Gandhamādana mountain. He bathed there with full saṅkalpa (a solemn vow of intent). He gave generous dāna (gifts) to brāhmaṇas: cows, grain, land and gold.
At once a bodiless voice (āśarīravāṇī) spoke:
“O Rāma, your brahmahatyā has been destroyed here completely. There is no doubt. Go happily to your city.”
Balarāma bowed down to the ground toward the voice. He praised Lakshmaṇa Tīrtha with deep respect. Then he finished his tīrtha-yātrā of the Setu-kshetra. He bathed at all the other tīrthas, bathed at Dhanushkoṭi and did pūjā to Rāmanātha. Fully purified, he left for Dvārakā.
Sources
- Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Setu Māhātmya, Chapter 19