Thread: Story of Barbarik.
The most powerful warrior in Mahabharat and the one who could finish the war in under a minute.
1. Barbarik was the grandson of Bhima and the son of Ghatotkacha.
The most powerful warrior in Mahabharat and the one who could finish the war in under a minute.
1. Barbarik was the grandson of Bhima and the son of Ghatotkacha.
2. He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Ahilawati apart from being his mother, was also his teacher who taught Barbarika, the art of warfare.
3. God Shiva, pleased with him, gave him the three infallible arrows (Teen Baan). Later, Agni (the god of Fire) gave him the bow that would make him victorious in the three worlds.
4. Before the war started, Lord Krishna asked everyone how long would it take for them to finish the war alone. Bhisma replied it would take 20 days. Dronacharya said it would take 25 days. Karna said it would take 24 days whereas Arjuna said it would take him 28 days.
5. Barbarik had expressed his desire to watch the war to his mother. His mother agreed, but asked him before leaving as to which side he would join. Barbarik promised his mother that he would join the side that was losing.
6. Krishna having heard of Barbarik and wanting to test Barbarik's strength disguised himself as a Brahmin came in front of Barbarik. Krishna asked him how many days would it take to finish the war. Barbarik replied it would take him only 1 minute if he were to fight it alone.
7. Krishna was surprised at this answer of Barbarik considering the fact that Barbarik was walking towards the battlefield with just 3 arrows and a bow.
8. To this Barbarika explains:-
i. The first arrow had the power of marking all the objects that Barbarik wanted to destroy.
ii. The second arrow could mark all the objects that Barbarik wanted to save.
i. The first arrow had the power of marking all the objects that Barbarik wanted to destroy.
ii. The second arrow could mark all the objects that Barbarik wanted to save.
iii. The third arrow could destroy all the objects marked by the first arrow OR destroy all the objects not marked by the second arrow.
9. Krishna eager to test this asked Barbarik to tie all the leaves of the tree that he was standing under. As Barbarik started meditating to perform the task, Krishna took one leaf from the tree and placed it under his foot without Barbarik's knowledge.
10. When Barbarik releases the first arrow, the arrow marks all the leaves from the tree and eventually starts revolving around Lord Krishna's feet. Krishna asks Barbarik as to why the arrow is doing this. To this Barbarik replies that there must be a leaf under your feet.
11. He asks Krishna to lift his leg. As soon as Krishna lifts his leg, the arrow goes ahead and marks the remaining leaf too.
12. This incident frightens Lord Krishna about the phenomenal power of Barbarik. He concludes that the arrows are truly infallible.
13. Krishna realizes that in the real battlefield in case Krishna wants to save someone (Pandavas) from Barbarik's attack, then he would not be able to do so.
14. Then Krishna asked him that from which side he will fight the battle, Kauravas or Pandavas. To this Barbarika replies, he would take Pandavas side as the Kaurava army was bigger than that of Pandavas.
15. Krishna explains the complexity of Barbarik’s promise to his mother. He tells which ever side he joins would make the other side weaker. So eventually he would end up oscillating between the two sides and destroy everyone except himself.
16. Krishna fearing the destruction of the entire army of Kauravas and Pandavas, Krishna(still disguised as a Brahmin) asks for Barbarik's head in charity to avoid his involvement in the war.
17. After this Krishna explains that it was necessary to sacrifice the head of the greatest Kshatriya in order to worship the battlefield and he regarded Barbarik as the greatest Kshatriya of that time.
18. Before actually giving his head, Barbarik expresses his desire to view the forthcoming battle at Kurukshetra. To this Krishna agreed to place Barbarik's head on top of the mountain that overlooked the battlefield.
19. At the end of the war, the Pandavas argued amongst themselves about who was the greatest warrior to their victory. To this Krishna suggests that Barbarik's head should be allowed to judge this since it has watched the entire war.
20. Barbarik's head suggests it saw only Lord Krishna's arrows going all over the battlefield and doing the damage. Meaning, his advice, his strategy and his mere presence was crucial in the victory. Hence Barbarik's is also sometimes called 'The Talking Head'.
Other interesting facts:
i. Barbarika is an important character in Mahabharat. However, it is not mentioned in Vyasa’s Mahabharat. This character might be there in other versions of Mahabharat.
i. Barbarika is an important character in Mahabharat. However, it is not mentioned in Vyasa’s Mahabharat. This character might be there in other versions of Mahabharat.
ii. Also Barbarika had obtained a boon from Krishna to the effect that he would be known by Krishna's own name (Shyam) in the Kaliyuga (present) and worshiped and that Barbarika's devotees would be blessed just by pronouncing his name and their troubles removed.
iii. Khatushyam Temple is a Hindu temple in the village of Khatushyamji, Rajasthan, that is very popular. Devotees believe it houses the miraculously rediscovered head of Barbarika or Khatushyam.
