prasad1
Active member
In Rajasthan, Barbarik is worshipped as Khatushyamji, because it was his supreme sacrifice on the eve of the Mahabharata war that ensured the victory of his grandfathers, the Pandavas.
This was a surprise for me. I have never heard of this story.
You have heard of the Mahabharata war and of Krishna advising Arjuna about creating the perfect mindset for war. Krishna's divine song, which is known as the Bhagavad Gita, is a source of inspiration for millions of people around the world. But few people may have heard of Barbarik, the son of Ghatotkach and the grandson of Bheem...
Before the Mahabharata war began, Lord Krishna apparently asked all the warriors how many days it would take them to finish the war if they were to fight alone. Bhisma replied that it would take him 20 days. Dronacharya said it would take him 25 days. Karna said it would take him 24 days and Arjuna said it would take him 28 days. But Barbarik astonished Krishna by saying that it would take him just a minute to win the battle.
Barbarik was the son of Ghatotkach and the grandson of Bheem, the famous Pandava. Having learnt the art of warfare from his mother, Maurvi, he proved to be a brave warrior even in his childhood. In addition to being a warrior, he was also a Shiva bhakt, and performed severe penance.
On the completion of Barbarik's penance, or tapasya, Shiva gifted him three powerful arrows: When used, the first arrow would mark an enemy with red ink. The second arrow would mark things not meant to be destroyed. The third arrow would destroy the enemy.
However, there were some conditions: Barbarik had to promise that he would not use the arrows for personal vengeance. That he would always use it to fight for the weaker side in a battle/war.
Krishna wanted to test the powers of Barbarik. So he went to meet the young boy and asked him to demonstrate his powers. Krishna suggested that Barbarik display his powers upon a tree, by treating each leaf upon the tree as an enemy and piercing a hole through them.
Barbarik agreed. He decided to meditate and pray first. As soon as he closed his eyes, Krishna - the eternal prankster - quickly plucked a leaf off the tree and hid it under his own feet.
Soon enough, Barbarik opened his eyes and aimed his arrow at the tree. His arrow made a red mark on the leaves. The second arrow pierced through all those red holes.
Guess what happened next? Barbarik's arrow also pierced clever Krishna's feet, because a leaf lay hidden under it! However, Krishna was more impressed than hurt to see the prowess of Barbarik, because it was so perfect!
Krishna then asked Barbarik about which side he would fight with, in the Mahabharata war. Of course, the Pandavas were his uncles, but there was another reason for Barbarik to choose that side. It was because they were clearly the weaker side as compared to the Kauravas.
But Krishna, always one to love debates, argued that in that case, the Kauravas would immediately become the weaker side, because Barbarik would be on the other side. What could Barbarik do, in that case?
Krishna then explained the paradox of Barbarik's situation. He said Barbarik would need to constantly switch sides as each side would keep turning stronger and weaker when he joined them!
It became evident to Barbarik and Krishna that he would have to die because he could not simply sit out the war, nor avoid taking any sides. The brave kshatriya (warrior) that he was, he decided to give up his life, even as he expressed a wish to Krishna that he wished he could have witnessed the Kurukshetra war.
Krishna then assured Barbarik that his severed head could watch the proceedings from atop a hill. Bheema, the mightiest Pandav, then carried his grandson's head to the top of the hill and placed it there with affection and reverence.
Thus, Barbarik got a chance to become a neutral witness to the entire proceedings. Indeed, after the war, he was asked whether it was the Pandavas or the Kauravas who won the long war. His reply was immediate and full of clarity.
Barbarik concluded that the Pandavas had won the battle, and it was Krishna who was responsible for it. Because it was Krishna's advice, presence of mind and game-plan that had made the difference.
Barbarika's three arrows are said to be symbolic of the three "taap" or spiritual tests that humans experience. These are the physical, mental and emotional conflicts experienced all through life. Since Barbarika gave up his life for Krishna, placing complete faith in him, similarly the three human predicaments have only one respite: Krishna!
This story is so bizarre, I still have tough time understanding the story's time line.
This was a surprise for me. I have never heard of this story.
You have heard of the Mahabharata war and of Krishna advising Arjuna about creating the perfect mindset for war. Krishna's divine song, which is known as the Bhagavad Gita, is a source of inspiration for millions of people around the world. But few people may have heard of Barbarik, the son of Ghatotkach and the grandson of Bheem...
Before the Mahabharata war began, Lord Krishna apparently asked all the warriors how many days it would take them to finish the war if they were to fight alone. Bhisma replied that it would take him 20 days. Dronacharya said it would take him 25 days. Karna said it would take him 24 days and Arjuna said it would take him 28 days. But Barbarik astonished Krishna by saying that it would take him just a minute to win the battle.
Barbarik was the son of Ghatotkach and the grandson of Bheem, the famous Pandava. Having learnt the art of warfare from his mother, Maurvi, he proved to be a brave warrior even in his childhood. In addition to being a warrior, he was also a Shiva bhakt, and performed severe penance.
On the completion of Barbarik's penance, or tapasya, Shiva gifted him three powerful arrows: When used, the first arrow would mark an enemy with red ink. The second arrow would mark things not meant to be destroyed. The third arrow would destroy the enemy.
However, there were some conditions: Barbarik had to promise that he would not use the arrows for personal vengeance. That he would always use it to fight for the weaker side in a battle/war.
Krishna wanted to test the powers of Barbarik. So he went to meet the young boy and asked him to demonstrate his powers. Krishna suggested that Barbarik display his powers upon a tree, by treating each leaf upon the tree as an enemy and piercing a hole through them.
Barbarik agreed. He decided to meditate and pray first. As soon as he closed his eyes, Krishna - the eternal prankster - quickly plucked a leaf off the tree and hid it under his own feet.
Soon enough, Barbarik opened his eyes and aimed his arrow at the tree. His arrow made a red mark on the leaves. The second arrow pierced through all those red holes.
Guess what happened next? Barbarik's arrow also pierced clever Krishna's feet, because a leaf lay hidden under it! However, Krishna was more impressed than hurt to see the prowess of Barbarik, because it was so perfect!
Krishna then asked Barbarik about which side he would fight with, in the Mahabharata war. Of course, the Pandavas were his uncles, but there was another reason for Barbarik to choose that side. It was because they were clearly the weaker side as compared to the Kauravas.
But Krishna, always one to love debates, argued that in that case, the Kauravas would immediately become the weaker side, because Barbarik would be on the other side. What could Barbarik do, in that case?
Krishna then explained the paradox of Barbarik's situation. He said Barbarik would need to constantly switch sides as each side would keep turning stronger and weaker when he joined them!
It became evident to Barbarik and Krishna that he would have to die because he could not simply sit out the war, nor avoid taking any sides. The brave kshatriya (warrior) that he was, he decided to give up his life, even as he expressed a wish to Krishna that he wished he could have witnessed the Kurukshetra war.
Krishna then assured Barbarik that his severed head could watch the proceedings from atop a hill. Bheema, the mightiest Pandav, then carried his grandson's head to the top of the hill and placed it there with affection and reverence.
Thus, Barbarik got a chance to become a neutral witness to the entire proceedings. Indeed, after the war, he was asked whether it was the Pandavas or the Kauravas who won the long war. His reply was immediate and full of clarity.
Barbarik concluded that the Pandavas had won the battle, and it was Krishna who was responsible for it. Because it was Krishna's advice, presence of mind and game-plan that had made the difference.
Barbarika's three arrows are said to be symbolic of the three "taap" or spiritual tests that humans experience. These are the physical, mental and emotional conflicts experienced all through life. Since Barbarika gave up his life for Krishna, placing complete faith in him, similarly the three human predicaments have only one respite: Krishna!
This story is so bizarre, I still have tough time understanding the story's time line.
