Tag: sin

Arrogant persons have difficulty to accept Krishna as the Supreme Lord

Those who are ignorant take to Krishna Consciousness but those who are arrogant find it difficult to accept Krishna as the Supreme Lord.

For example, Mrgari, the hunter, was ignorant so he was committing so many sins but once he came to know from sage Narada that how in future he will suffer for his sins, he immediately gave up killing animals. He accepted the supremacy of the Lord and took to devotional life.

By worshipping the Lord, his heart became cleansed, and he began seeing everyone as children of same God. This is why later when Narada comes to meet him then while approaching the sage he walks carefully so that he does not step on the ants coming his way.

On the other hand, we see Duryodhana and Dhritarashtra got so many opportunities to become devotees of Krishna, but they never accepted Krishna as their well-wishing friend. In fact, when Krishna came as peace messenger to Hastinapur, then instead of listening to his good advice, arrogant Duryodhana tried to imprison Krishna. And the blind king looked the other way when his son was committing such horrendous sin.

But who can capture Krishna who is the Lord of the entire creation!

Although Duryodhana and Dhritarashtra’s story is 5000 years old but still there are people who have the mentality exactly like them. I remember, during my college days, we had a cultural program and for that we had to go to a different place. But on that day, it was raining heavily, and it seemed that we won’t be able to participate in the program. While addressing us on that day a senior member of the management said that today we have to defeat God and participate in the program.

Foolish & Unfortunate do not accept Krishna

God is not like an ordinary envious person that he will take interest in disrupting some program in some corner of the universe. He has many better things to do. Summer, winter, rainy seasons keeps on coming and going and we have to live with it. But sometimes, some situations expose a person’s heart.

Sometimes materialistic people have intelligence and knowledge by which they are able to achieve something great. But instead of being grateful and thankful to the Lord for the gift of intelligence they develop ego which turns into arrogance. They do not realize that anything which they achieve here is temporary. And most importantly they do not know that their next destination will not be auspicious as they have been acting impiously in this life.

Such people might be in high position today, materially learned, ultra rich, may possess beauty or other attractive attributes but if they do not accept Krishna then there are utterly foolish, misdirected, unfortunate and lowest of mankind. This is what Krishna says about them in Bhagavad Gita. Krishna further says that such people do not come to him but glide down to hell. 

“Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, who are lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons do not surrender unto Me.” Bhagavad Gita 7.15

So, let us check our life and see if we are happy to accept Krishna as the Supreme Lord and love loving him and serving him. Or we are so full in ourselves that we do not care for him.

Three Reflections

• After listening to Narada’s advice, Mrgari, gave up killing animals and became a devotee of the Supreme Lord.
• Although Duryodhana and Dhritarashtra’s story is 5000 years old but still there are people who have the mentality exactly like them.
• Those who do not accept Krishna are utterly foolish, misdirected, unfortunate and lowest of mankind.

Ask Yourself

• Do I accept Krishna as the Supreme Lord?

Action Item

• Take a vow to never think that Krishna is doing something bad to me.

Facing criticism for becoming a devotee of Krishna

If someone is criticizing you for becoming a devotee of Krishna then do not worry, you are not alone.  Many sincere devotees have faced this problem or are facing this problem.

There will always be someone who will discourage us when we will want to become serious in our devotion to Krishna. But now we know that Krishna is our best well-wishing friend. He is the only one who can give great joy to our heart. And he is the only one who can relive us from all the sufferings and save us from all the dangers.

We have tried so many things in our life to satisfy our heart and to free our mind from fear and anxiety, but nothing worked. But when we began practicing devotion to Krishna especially chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, we started experiencing what we had always been longing for – never ending satisfaction and happiness.

Chanting is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s wonderful gift to us.

Benefits of Chanting

Chanting the names of Krishna:

• Purifies our heart of all the impurities.
• Burns our past sins which is the root cause of our sufferings.
• Helps us to connect to Krishna.

Lust, greed, pride, anger, envy, illusion and false ego are the impurities which keeps us away from Krishna and constantly troubles us. The sins which we committed in past – either in this life or previous life – are the reasons that we go through different sufferings in this world.

And there is no material means which can purify our heart of these impurities or give us relief from sinful reactions.

But Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who is none other than Krishna says that chanting is so potent that it cleanses our heart of all impurities and relives us from all the sins. As chanting begins purifying our heart, we start relishing the names of Krishna which now appears as nectar.

“Glory to the Sri Krishna Sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.” Sri Siksastakam, Text 1

Once we develop taste for chanting, nothing of this world distracts us anymore. This is the reason that devotees like Haridas Thakura would chant 192 rounds daily because he experienced great joy in chanting.

Criticism does not bother a sincere devotee

And this is the reason that we too do not want to give up chanting because we know that a day will come when we too will begin relishing Krishna holy names.

When that happens, we will attain freedom from material bondage, forever we will never again have to suffer. And by the grace of Krishna, one day we will attain love of Krishna too.

Such a blissful future is knocking at our door, so why we will give up devotion to Krishna, why we will stop chanting the names of Krishna. And why we will be bothered about someone who is criticizing us for becoming a devotee of Krishna.

We should take a vow to not again get distracted by the false promises of this temporary world. And we should do our best to always remain connected to Krishna by never giving up chanting the names of Krishna i.e. the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

Three Reflections

• We should not be bothered about someone who is criticizing us for becoming a devotee of Krishna.
• Chanting is so potent that it cleanses our heart of all impurities and relives us from all the sins.
• Once we develop taste for chanting the names of Krishna, we will attain freedom from material bondage and forever we will never again have to suffer.

Ask Yourself

• Is someone criticising you when you are chanting the names of Krishna?

Action Item

• Develop friendship with a devotee who encourages you to chant the names of Krishna.

Krishna can deliver us from all the sufferings. Are we ready for it?

Suffering is inevitable in this world, but merciful Krishna is ready to deliver us from all the sufferings. We just have to be ready to accept his grace.

Sin causes suffering. So, if we are suffering now, it implies that we committed sins in past either in this life or in past lives.  We have taken many births and so we do not know how many sins we have committed.

Now if we are going to be subjected for suffering for each sin then we can easily understand how difficult our future will be. In fact, living entities are forced to take animal body because of the kind of sin he/she committed.

But the Lord, our father, does not want us to suffer. So, while concluding the teachings of Bhagavad Gita, Krishna, the Supreme Lord, says to Arjuna and through Arjuna to all of us that we should give up everything and take his shelter. And he further says that if we do so then he is going to free us from all the sins.

Krishna said this about 5000 years ago but unfortunately, we the suffering souls did not show much inclination to take Krishna’s shelter. So, Krishna came again about 500 years ago as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to tell us the necessity of giving up sinful life and taking shelter of Krishna. By his personal example, he taught us how to take became devotees of Krishna.

Chanting is the medicine for all the sufferings

Mahaprabhu propagated chanting of Hare Krishna Mahamantra because this great chant will deliver us from all miseries. Extolling the glories of the mahamantra, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says that this mantra has the potency to cleanse our heart of all impurities and liberate us from the repeated cycles of birth and death. 

As we have been committing sins life after life, so the sins are so deep rooted in our heart that it appears that it is almost impossible to give it up. We are so much habituated by sinful life, that we keep committing sins even though we know that sins are dragging us to hellish life.

For such fallen souls Lord Chaitanya has come. He has given us great hope that if we chant the names of Krishna sincerely and attentively then our heart will get cleansed of all impurities which forces us to commit sins.  The holy name of Krishna i.e. the Hare Krishna Mahamantra can deliver us from all the sufferings. This is the best medicine for all the fallen souls like you and me.

Examples of Mahaprabhu’s mercy

If we study the life of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then we find that he delivered so many sinful people by helping them to connect to Krishna and to himself too because he is none other than Krishna with the mood of Srimati Radharani. People were mesmerised seeing him chant and dance.

In fact, anyone who saw him got purified. There was a Muslim tailor who once saw Mahaprabhu singing, dancing and chanting.  Mahaprabhu showed his mercy upon him by showing him his original form. The tailor became maddened with joy seeing the beautiful form of the Lord and became his devotee.

“Saying “I have seen! I have seen!” and dancing in ecstatic love as though mad, he became a first-class Vaiṣṇava.” CC Ādi 17.232

What to talk of human beings, the merciful Lord even delivered animals. Once a dog accompanied Srila Sivananda Sen when he was going to see Lord Chaitanya in Jagannath Puri.  The fortunate dog got to see Mahaprabhu and the dog got delivered and attained Vaikuntah.  

“Let me repeatedly offer my respectful obeisances unto the beelike devotees who always taste the honey of the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. If even a doggish non devotee somehow takes shelter of such devotees, he enjoys the aroma of the lotus flower.” CC Ādi 10.1

In this fallen age of Kaliyuga we are all fallen. But Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who is none other than Krishna has come here to deliver us from sinful life which is the cause of all the sufferings and take us back to the spiritual world.  Indeed, he is the friend of the fallen souls. Are we ready to become his friend?

Three Reflections

• If we are suffering now, it implies that we committed sins in past either in this life or in past lives.
• A tailor became maddened with joy seeing the beautiful form of Lord Chaitanya and became his devotee.
• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who is none other than Krishna has come here to deliver us from sinful life.

Ask Yourself?

• Do I believe in the mercy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu?

Action Item

• To know the mercy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu read “The Pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu in His Youth” given in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

The great gift of holy name by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

In this fallen age of Kaliyuga, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has given us the gift of holy name which gives us relief from all the miseries. Anyone can take shelter of the holy name.

And whoever takes shelter of the holy names soon becomes free from all sinful reactions and attain happiness. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu again and again has highlighted the importance of taking shelter of holy name.

In Prayag, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu demonstrated how great the holy name is by giving the example of Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrī Vallabha [Anupama Mallika].

Wonderful effect of chanting the holy names of Krishna

Once when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was in Prayag, Śrī Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, who was a great learned scholar, came to meet him. Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrī Vallabha [Anupama Mallika] were also present there. The two brothers offered obeisances to Śrī Vallabha Bhaṭṭa.

But when Śrī Vallabha Bhaṭṭa tried to go near the two brothers, both of them ran away to a distant place.

Rūpa Gosvāmī said, “I am untouchable and sinful. Please do not touch me.”

When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu heard this, he smiled and said, “Yes, do not go near to them or touch them because they belong to a low caste, and you are learned scholar.”  Vallabh Bhatta being a devotee of the Lord immediately understood what Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is trying to say. He also understood that the Supreme Lord is testing him.

He immediately said, “I see these two brothers always chanting the names of Krishna, so, how can they be fallen or untouchable. In fact, in my opinion which is also collaborated by the sastras they are even greater than the brahmanas.”  

Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya then recited the following verse: “ My dear Lord, one who always keeps Your holy name on his tongue becomes greater than an initiated brāhmaṇa. Although he may be born in a family of dog-eaters and may therefore, by material calculation, be the lowest among men, he is still glorious. This is the wonderful effect of chanting the holy name of the Lord. It is therefore concluded that one who chants the holy name of the Lord should be understood to have performed all kinds of austerities and great sacrifices mentioned in the Vedas. He has already taken his bath in all the holy places of pilgrimage, he has studied all the Vedas, and he is actually an Āryan.” Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.72

Burning all the sinful reactions

When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu heard this, he was very pleased. He immediately quoted the scriptures wherein it is mentioned that one who begins to take shelter of all merciful Supreme Lord and chant his names then he immediately transcends all material designations.

Holy name burns his all past sinful reactions, he becomes pure and glorious. But if a person is born in a brahmana family and is a learned Vedic scholar but if he not practicing devotion to Krishna and not chanting his names then such a birth or knowledge is of no use.

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “A person who has the pure characteristics of a brāhmaṇa due to devotional service, which is like a blazing fire burning to ashes all the sinful reactions of past lives, is certainly saved from the consequences of sinful acts, such as taking birth in a lower family. Even though he may be born in a family of dog-eaters, he is recognized by learned scholars. But although a person may be a learned scholar in Vedic knowledge, he is not recognized if he is an atheist.” Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.74

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu further says.

“For a person devoid of devotional service, birth in a great family or nation, knowledge of the revealed scriptures, performance of austerities and penance, and chanting of Vedic mantras are all like ornaments on a dead body. Such ornaments simply serve the concocted pleasures of the general populace.” Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.75

Krishna never discriminates

We all are children of Krishna. And each one of us has a right to get connected to our spiritual father. Krishna does not discriminate amongst his children. This is why he is always present as Paramatma in the heart of all living entities.

As Paramatma, he is in the heart of a brahmana, kshatriya, Vaisya, sudra, animals, plants, ants, insects. So, if Krishna treats everyone equally then why we the lesser mortals should discriminate others? 

Holy name transforms lives of thousands of people all over the world

How fortunate we are that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave us the shelter of the holy name which gives complete perfection! And also established that anyone can chant the holy names of Krishna.

Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita 18.66 says that if we surrender to him then we will attain freedom from all sins and fear.  The same Krishna comes as Lord Chaitanya to teach us how to surrender to him. And that is by chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. This is the medicine for the age of Kaliyuga.

harer nāma harer nāma

harer nāmaiva kevalam

kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva

nāsty eva gatir anyathā

“In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.” Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.242

In Chaitanya Charitamrita, we see how thousands of people including the most sinful Jagai and Madhai got transformed by taking shelter of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the holy names.

Srila Prabhupada carried the Mahamantra and distributed it freely all over the world. It created a great revolution.  People irrespective of caste, creed, colour, nationality came together to chant the names of Krishna. Holy name empowered them to give up all sinful habits, they became pure and dedicated their lives to serve Krishna forever.  

Holy name bestows upon us eternal happiness

This shows how effective the holy name of Krishna is. It works for everyone. Anyone who chants it sincerely starts experiencing bliss. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has bestowed upon us great benediction by gifting us the holy name of Krishna.

If the whole world starts following his teachings and chant the names of Krishna, then everyone will be free from all fear and miseries. 

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says that we should not get bogged down with material pains, pleasures and prestige because these things keep on coming and going as long as we are living in this world.  

Instead of that we should constantly devote our life in chanting the names of Krishna – kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ.

If we do so, we will never be unhappy but always be happy even in this life. And will return back to our original spiritual home after we leave this world.

Why Balarama killed Romaharṣaṇa Sūta and the lessons we can learn?

Romaharṣaṇa Sūta was given the position of a spiritual master, he was going to speak on Vedas but why Lord Balarama killed him?

To know this first let us first understand who Balarama is and then we will discuss why Balarama killed Romaharṣaṇa Sūta.

We find that Lord Balarama who is a plenary expansion of Krishna manifests his anger quite a number of times during his pastime with Krishna on earth. 

It is explained that the only physical difference between Krishna and Balarama is that Krishna is blackish in complexion and Balarama is white. Krishna is the Supreme Lord and since he wants to perform many different pastimes, so he decides to expand. And his first expansion is Balarama.

Balarama plays the most significant role in Krishna’s lila. He is always there to serve Krishna, every moment. This is why Balrama is also called servitor Godhead.

Balarama serves Krishna in five rasas

There are five primary rasas, in which devotees serve Krishna. A devotee serves Krishna in only one rasa. For example, Srimati Radharani serves Krishna in Madhurya rasa and Mother Yashoda serves Krishna in Vatsalya rasa.

Now if we see Balarama, then he serves Krishna in all the five rasas.

Balarama is always with Krishna and Krishna can never be alone without Balarama. In the spiritual world everything is spiritual. The garments, the crown, the earrings, the jewelleries which Krishna wears are expansion of Balarama. Goloka Vrindavan is an expansion of Balarama.

In Krishna lila he is the elder brother of Krishna and in Rama lila, he is the elder brother of Krishna. He expands as Ananga Manjari, younger sister of Radharani, and assists her in her Madhurya lila.  Now these are the ways in which Balarama is serving Krishna directly.

Balarama is adi guru

But one of the most important services of Balarama is to guide the misguided souls and help them to reunite with Krishna. The best guide is the guru who is not just a teacher but a friend, philosopher and guide. So, Balarama is the adi guru, the first guru, the original guru. Without the mercy of Balarama, it is not possible to get Krishna.

Now guru can help disciples in many ways. He can be friendly and teach his pupil how to practice devotional life. But sometimes a guru has to show his anger not because he is under the influence of anger but because anger is required to control an unruly conditioned soul.

So, we see in Krishna lila, Balaram has showed his angry quite often. Sometimes the anger is to enhance the rasa.  But many times, to correct those conditioned souls who are committing grave sins.

If we analyse the activities of Balarama, then we will find that he is such a compassionate personality that he is not shying away from helping even the most demoniac person.

But sometimes he goes on to punish someone who may be on an exalted position. One such pastime is Balarama killing of Romaharṣaṇa Sūta.

Why Balarama killed Romaharṣaṇa Sūta?

Balarama did not want to participate in the Mahabharat war. He tried his best to stop the gruesome war, but he did not succeed. Why? Although he is the Adi guru, the Supreme servitor God, but still, he does not force the conditioned souls to do what he wants them to do.

We are free to exercise our free will

Balarama does not interfere in anyone’s free will. A guru guides, inspires, motivates, encourages and shows the right path. But later it is up to the disciples to decide if he (or she) wants to sincerely follow the guidelines of the guru or not. 

In Bhagavad Gita we see that after imparting all the knowledge to Arjuna, Krishna says to Arjuna that he is free to do whatever he wants to do now. But as an ideal disciple, Arjuna says to Krishna, “I will do whatever you want me to do.”

however if you and I want to do things as per our own independent mindset and act against the injunctions of the sastras then guru with a heavy heart leaves us and does not interfere in our life. But for our actions, we have to face the consequences.

So, Balarama does not force anyone to stop Mahabharat war. The war was against his wishes, so he leaves and decides to visit holy places and take bath in holy rivers.

Balarama goes to Naimiṣāraṇya

On his pilgrimage he comes to Naimiṣāraṇya, a holy place. This place is quite famous because transcendentalists assemble at this place to perform sacrifices and to discuss on topics related to God and self-realization.

When Balarama arrived, he found that many great sages, ascetics, brahmanas and learned scholars had assembled for a great sacrifice. These great personalities immediately rose up as soon as they saw Lord Balarama.

Many offered obeisances to him and those who were elderly showered their blessings upon him. These transcendentalists knew that Lord Balarama is the Supreme Lord, first plenary expansion of Krishna and they knew that the two brothers, Krishna and Balarama, had appeared for a specific purpose. After honouring Balarama, they provided him a suitable place to sit.

Romaharṣaṇa Sūta disrespects Balarama

Balarama took his seat but to his surprise, he saw that Romaharṣaṇa Sūta who was sitting on vyāsāsana, did not get up to offer respects to him. In fact, he was ignoring him. Romaharṣaṇa Sūta was a disciple of Śrīla Vyāsadeva, so he must be knowing who is Balarama.

What is the use of being a Vedic scholar if one does not recognize the Supreme Lord and even disrespects him even after knowing him? Demons and atheists abhor the Lord, but they do not pretend to be transcendentalist.

But if someone in the guise of being a Vedic scholar and brahmana is trying to show impudence towards the Lord then it’s a sin, an offence. 

Krishna and Balarama had appeared to establish religious principles. Balarama, the Adi guru, could not allow such hypocrisy to continue. He was extremely angry at Romaharṣaṇa Sūta.

Balarama’s anger

Lord Balarama said, “Although he is a disciple of the divine sage Vyāsa and has thoroughly learned many scriptures from him, including the lawbooks of religious duties and the epic histories and Purāṇas, all this study has not produced good qualities in him. Rather, his study of the scriptures is like an actor’s studying his part, for he is not self-controlled or humble and vainly presumes himself a scholarly authority, though he has failed to conquer his own mind.”  Srimad Bhagavatam 10.78.25-26

Scriptures are not just for verbal recitation. It is the purity of the speaker which transforms the heart of the listener. Someone may be a great orator but if he does not have love and respect for the Lord then he might speak eloquently but it will not transform the heart of people.  

The purpose of knowing Vedic scriptures is to know the Supreme Lord and to know how to approach the Lord. But if one does not respect a guru then how will he get the mercy of Krishna? Because without the help of a guru one cannot attain Krishna.

In such a scenario, a guru cannot be a mute spectator.

Seething with anger, Balarama further said, “The very purpose of My descent into this world is to kill such hypocrites who pretend to be religious. Indeed, they are the most sinful rascals.” Srimad Bhagavatam 10.78.27

Balarama had stopped punishing the demons, but he would not allow such hypocrisy to continue. Romaharṣaṇa Sūta had to be punished.

Balarama kills Romaharṣaṇa Sūta

The Lord picked up a blade of kusa grass and with its tip touched Romaharṣaṇa Sūta, he died immediately on the spot.

No ordinary person can kill someone by a blade of grass. But here we see Balarama killed Romaharṣaṇa Sūta just by touching him with a blade of grass.

Balarama killing Romaharṣaṇa Sūta is actually saving him from committing more such sins. Because of the impurities in his heart, he would have committed more sins and would have suffered more.

But the assembled transcendentalists were shocked. They knew that what Balarama did was appropriate.  But the sages were sad and perturbed.

They said, “We had chosen him as the spiritual master and had made him sit on vyāsāsana. Not just that, we had blessed him with a long duration of life and freedom from any pain till the sacrifice continues.So now how our sacrifice will continue. Moreover, you have killed a brahmana which is improper, irreligious.”

Balarama said, “Although, I killed Romaharṣaṇa Sūta but if you want I can bring back his life. Let me know what you want me to do? ”

Romaharṣaṇa Sūta’s son given the position of his father

The sages replied, “Dear Lord, you are the upholder of religious principles, so you know what is appropriate to do. We cannot direct you. But we request you to do something so that you killing him with kusa grass and we giving him the benediction both remain intact.”

Balarama said, “Son is the representative of the father. So, whatever benediction like long life, freedom from pain, stamina etc which was given to Romaharṣaṇa Sūta can be transferred to his son, Ugraśravā Sūta. He can sit on vyāsāsana for the spiritual discourse.” 

“The Supreme Lord said: The Vedas instruct us that one’s own self takes birth again as one’s son. Thus let Romaharṣaṇa’s son become the speaker of the Purāṇas, and let him be endowed with long life, strong senses and stamina.” Srimad Bhagavatam 10.78.36

Everyone was happy to hear this and Ugraśravā Sūta occupied the divine position and became the speaker.  

It was not the caste why Balarama killed Romaharṣaṇa Sūta

When in the beginning Balarama was chastising, Romaharṣaṇa Sūta then he said, son of a suta caste, which means low born. Romaharṣaṇa Sūta was born in a pratiloma family because his father was a kṣatriya and mother a brāhmaṇa.

But still Romaharṣaṇa Sūta was given the position of a brāhmaṇa. But since he was not acting as a brāhmaṇa so Balarama was furious.

Brāhmaṇa is not a position which one acquires by birth but is given based on one’s character and qualification. But Romaharṣaṇa Sūta was misusing the position. 

Balarama wanted to end this hypocrisy, so he killed him. But immediately, we see that Lord Balarama awarded the same benediction to his son. So, Balarama was not in fact criticizing the birth of Romaharṣaṇa Sūta but was angry because of his irreligious act.

Since Romaharṣaṇa Sūta’s son had the qualification to be a brahmana so he was installed on that position by Lord Balarama himself.

Just like anyone is eligible to become a doctor. But only one who qualifies the entrance exam, studies for five years and gets the degree and license to practice from the government can become a doctor.

But later, if it is found that the doctor’s conduct is not good then his license to practice is revoked by the government.

Similarly, one who is following the Vedic scriptures and living it as per its directions can become a brahmana but if he is misusing his position then he can be removed from the position of a brahmana from a superior authority.  

Initially I thought that since Romaharṣaṇa Sūta was not a brāhmaṇa so Lord Balarama killed him. But when I read the pastime completely then I understood that Romaharṣaṇa Sūta was not killed because of his caste but because of his irreligious act, Balarama punished him.

Sinless Balarama atones for his sin

Balarama further asked the sages to tell him how he can atone for his sins.

The Supreme Lord Balarama had not committed any sins and so there was no need for him to atone. But to set a higher standard that the words of the sages should be honoured, he asked them how he can atone for his sins?

The sages knew the strength of Balarama, so they requested him to kill a ferocious demon named Balvala who was disturbing them in their sacrifices. The sages further said that after killing the demon, he should continue with its pilgrimage for twelve months.

“Thereafter, for twelve months, You should circumambulate the land of Bhārata in a mood of serious meditation, executing austerities and bathing at various holy pilgrimage sites. In this way You will become purified.” Srimad Bhagavatam 10.78.40 

Balarama happily agreed. After killing the demon, he went to many holy places situated in the holy land of Bharatvarsha.