Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 10.79 Summary

This chapter describes how Lord Baladeva satisfied the brahmanas by killing Balvala, bathed at various holy pilgrimage sites and attempted to dissuade Bhimasena and Duryodhana from fighting.

At the sacrificial arena of the sages at Naimisharanya forest, a harsh wind began to blow on the new-moon day, spreading the obnoxious smell of pus and obscuring everything with dust. The demon Balvala then appeared there with a trident in his hand, his massive body pitch black and his face very frightening. Lord Baladeva caught the demon with His plow and then struck him a ferocious blow on the head with His club, killing him. The sages chanted Lord Baladeva's glories and presented Him with lavish gifts.

Lord Balarama then began His pilgrimage, during which He visited many holy tirthas. When He heard news of the battle between the Kurus and Pandavas, the Lord went to Kurukshetra to try to stop the duel between Bhima and Duryodhana. But He could not dissuade them from fighting, so deep was their enmity. Understanding that the fight was the arrangement of fate, Lord Baladeva left the battlefield and returned to Dvaraka.

Some time later, Balarama again went to the Naimisharanya forest, where the sages performed a number of fire sacrifices on His behalf. Lord Baladeva reciprocated by granting the sages transcendental knowledge and revealing to them His eternal identity.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari