Romaharshana was from Suta (charioteer) caste. He was the dearest disciple of Rishi Vedavyasa. Vedavyasa taught him all the Puranas and blessed him to be an authoritative orator on all the eighhteen Puranas. That was why, Romaharshana had come to be known as an orator on the Puranas. At that time eighty-eight thousand sages stayed in Naimisharanya. Romaharshana visited the household of all those sages and preached them on the Puranas. Even though he belonged to low Suta caste, yet the sages showed full honour to him and offered him a higher seat. His narration was so overwhelming that hearing about his arrival, all the sages used to gather around him from far-off places. First, he used to worship the sages and enquiring about their well being, ask them which story they wished to hear. At that Shaunak or any other elder sage would raise a question and ask: "Romaharshana, if our question is in relation to the Puranas, kindly answer it".

Now there is nothing that is not in the Puranas, hence greeting the sage, Romaharshana would say: "Brother, your question is indeed in the Puranas. I had heard something from my teacher Vyasaji regarding this. A part of that, I am going to relate to you. Kindly listen to it carefully". With that, Romaharshana used to begin his tale and answering the questions, kept on telling more tales. Thus, he was always engaged in reciting God's name. He met his death through Balarama. Travelling through pilgrimages, one day Balarama reached Naimisharanya. Romaharshana was then sitting on Vyasapeetha (the seat of the preacher) and did not stand up to honour Balarama. Balarama got angry and indignantly, he beheaded Romaharshana.

The sages present there said: "You have not done justice. Blessing him for a long life, we had offered him a higher seat. Now the sin of Brahmahatya (killing of a Brahmin) is on you, so be prepared to observe penance". Sages told Balarama, that if he was willing to take up penance, others will get a good lesson from it. Thus to complete his penance, Balarama made Romaharshana's son Ugrashrava, the orator of Puranas and seated him on Vyasapeetha. As per "ATMA VAIJAYATE PUNAH", Ugrashrava had all the virtues of his father.