164 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

Balarama then considered the history of Romaharsana: he was born in a
sita family or a mixed family, born of a brahmana woman and ksatriya
man. Therefore although Romaharsana considered Balarama a ksatriya,
he should not have remained sitting on a higher seat. Lord Balarama
considered that Romaharsana, according to his position by birth, should
not have accepted the higher sitting position, because there were many
learned brahmanas and sages present. He also observed that Romaharsana
not only did not come down from his exalted seat, but he did not even
stand up and offer his respects when Balaramaji entered the assembly.
Lord Balarama did not like the audacity of Romaharsana, and he became
very angry with him.

When a person is seated on the Vy4sasana, he does not generally have to
stand up to receive a particular person entering the assembly, but in this
case the situation was different because Lord Baladeva is not an ordinary
human being. Therefore, although Romaharsana Sita was voted to the
Vyasasana by all the brahmanas, he should have followed the behavior of
other learned sages and brahmanas who were present and should have
known that Lord Balarama is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Respects are always due to Him, even though such respects can be avoided
in the case of an ordinary man. The appearances of Krsna and Balarama
are especially meant for reestablishment of the religious principles. As
stated in the Bhagavad-gita, the highest religious principle is to surrender
unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is also confirmed in the
Srimad-Bhagavatam that the topmost perfection of religiousness is tu be
engaged in the devotional service of the Lord.

When Lord Balarama saw that Romaharsana Sita did not understand
the highest principle of religiousness in spite of having studied all the
Vedas, He certainly could not support his position. Romaharsana Sita had
been given a chance to become a perfect brahmana, but because of his ill
behavior in his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his
low birth was immediately remembered. Romaharsana Suita had been
given the position of a brahmana, but he had not been born in the family
of a brahmana; he had been born in a pratiloma family. According to the
Vedic concept, there are two kinds of mixed family heritage. They are
called anuloma and pratiloma. When a male is united with a female of a
lower caste, the offspring is called anuloma; but when a male unites with
a woman of a higher caste, the offspring is called pratiloma. Romaharsana
Suta belonged to the pratiloma family because his father was a ksatriya
and his mother a bradhmana. Because Romaharsana’s transcendental
realization was not perfect, Lord Balarama remembered his pratiloma
heritage. The idea is that any man can be given the chance to become a
