Barbarik: Warrior With Three Arrows
By: Deepansh Palawat
Tags: Devotion, War, Ancient History, Sacrifice, God

Barbarika the warrior who could have ended the Mahabharata war in a minute, he was the strongest warrior in Mahabharata. A strong devotee of Lord Shiva. He learnt the art of warfare from his mother. Lord Shiva gave him a boon of the three infallible arrows. Hence, Barbarika came to be known as “Bearer of Three Arrows”. When Barbarika learnt that battle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas had become inevitable, he wanted to witness what was to be the Mahabharata War. He promised his mother that if he felt the urge to participate in the battle, he would join the side which would be losing. Today let’s dig into the story of the great legend.

Early life

Barbarik was the grandson of Bheema. He had learnt the art of warfare from her mother Ahilawati, she was also known as kamkanthika she was a naga Kanya (snake — girl) and was married to ghatotkacha son of Bheema. Ghatotkacha was a powerful warrior, who was a half rakshasa due to his maternal side.

Barbarik and Mahabharata war

When barbarik got to know about the war between Kauravas and Pandavas he wanted to witness the war, but before leaving for Kurukshetra he promised her mother that if he found it necessary to fight in the war, he will fight with the side which is losing in war.

Before the day of the far Krishna asked all the great warriors on that land how many days they can finish the war alone. Bhishma said that it will take 20 days for him to finish the war alone, Dronacharya said 25 days, Karna answered 24 days, Arjuna said 28 days. But all got amazed when Barbarik said that It will take a minute for him to finish the war alone.

Krishna tested barbarik strength

When Barbarik said that he could end the war in a minute Krishna wanted to test his strength so he decided to take his test.

Krishna disguised himself as a brahmin and appeared in front of him again as a brahmin Krishna asked the same question: how much time it will take to end the war for him alone. Barbarik replied, one minute. He asked him how he will win the battle in just one minute. Barbarika said that he got a boon from Shiva with three infallible arrows. He said that he will use the first arrow to mark all the things (or opponents) that he wants to destroy. Then, using the second arrow, he marks all the things he wanted to save. Now the third arrow will destroy everyone that is not marked and then return to his quiver.

To prove what Barbarik said Krishna challenged him to tie all the leaves of the peepal tree under which he was standing with his arrows.

Barbarik accepted the challenge and took his arrow out from his quiver and targeted it to the peepal tree, but before releasing the arrow he closed his eyes and meditated for a few seconds. At that moment Krishna plucked one leaf from the tree and hid it under his foot.

After meditating Barbarik released his arrow, now the arrow marked all the leaves of the peepal tree and after that, it started to hover at Krishna’s feet. Krishna, amazed by this act asked barbarik why this is happening. He replied there must be a leaf beneath your feet and advised him to lift his foot otherwise the arrow will pierce his leg to reach the leaf. After this act, Krishna realised that his arrows are infallible.

Krishna asked barbarik from which side he will fight Kauravas or Pandavas

Krishna after witnessing barbarik’s strength asked him from which side he will be fighting. Barbarika replied that he had promised his mother that he would support and fight along with the side which was losing in the war at that point.

Krishna after hearing this realises that Barbarika does not understand the complexity of his principle of always fighting on the losing side. To make him understand what he had promised Krishna said:

Whichever side you are going to support will win the battle. But the problem is that if you fight on the side of Pandavas, then Kauravas will become weak.

And if you fight on the side of Kauravas, then Pandavas will become weak. Therefore you have to constantly switch sides to support the other side that has become weaker because of the promise you made to your mother.

In this way, you will keep oscillating between Pandavas and Kauravas & ends up destroying armies on both sides. Thus none of the sides became victorious and you would be the lone survivor of the war.

Krishna asked barbarik to sacrifice his head

Before the day of battle, Krishna along with Arjuna met Barbarik and said it is very much necessary to worship the battlefield before the battle to win the war and to do that he needs the head of the bravest Kshatriya. He adds that Dharma needs to win the war and for that this battle needs a sacrifice from the bravest soldier.

Krishna said: In this whole cosmos there are only three Kshatriya who can give their head Arjun me or you barbaric after listening this Arjun said “O Lord Krishna please give me this opportunity to sacrifice myself for this battle of dharma” Krishna denied to take Arjun’s life as he can’t take the life of any Pandav because they are the sole reasons of this DharmaYudha (war). After listening to all this argument barbarik took his sword and dissected his head from his body and gave it to Krishna to worship the war field.

He sacrifices his head in the presence of Lord Krishna on the 12th day of the Shukla Paksha (bright half) of the month of Phalguna. Through the charity of his head, Barbarika from then was known to be Sheesh ke daani (donor of head).

Barbarik’s Previous life -

It is said that the sacrifice of Barbarik was a result of his previous life karma. Barbarika was a Yaksha (a class of spirit beings or semi-divine beings and are often protectors of treasures) in his previous birth. Once, Lord Brahma and other Devtas visited Vaikuntha and complained about the growing Adharma (wrongness or evil) on the Earth, to Lord Vishnu.

Lord Vishnu told the Devas that he will soon be incarnated on Earth as a human being and destroy all the evil forces. Then, a Yaksha told the Devas that he alone is enough to kill all evil elements on the Earth and that Lord Vishnu didn’t need to incarnate on earth. On hearing this, Lord Brahma got offended and cursed this Yaksha that whenever the time comes to eliminate all the evil forces on earth, then Lord Vishnu will first kill him.

By this, he meant that Yaksha will not get a chance to wash away all the evil elements as he will get killed by the incarnation of Lord Vishnu first.

As a result of Lord Brahma’s curse, it is said that this Yaksha has taken birth as Barbarika and Lord Krishna — the incarnation of Lord Vishnu to end the Adharma seeks his head in charity.

Before the sacrifice, Barbarika expresses his last wish to see the Mahabharat Battle to Lord Krishna and asks him to fulfil this desire. Upon receiving Krishna’s agreement, Barbarika cuts his head off and gives it to Krishna. Lord Krishna kept his head alive and placed his head on top of a hill. From there, he could witness the entire battle through the special eyesight Lord Krishna had provided him.

Barbarik: Lord Khatu Shayam Ji -

Barbarik’s head was drowned in the river named rupawati by Krishna giving lots of blessings. He said: I will grant you my name Shyam which was given to me by my mother Yashoda Maiya and he also gave him miraculous powers to please his devotees because in Kaliyuga he will be worshipped as a great god Khatu Shyam JI.

After many years in Kaliyuga Barbarik head was found buried in the village khatu, Sikar district in Rajasthan.

The king of vilage khatu Roop Singh Chauhan built a temple to place barbarik’s head, the place where the idol is dug is called Shyam Kund. In Rajasthan, people worship barbrik as Lord Khatu Shyam Ji. It is said that Krishna declared that just by taking the name of barbarika with a true and selfless heart all the wish of devotees will be fulfilled.

Although the story of this warrior remains an unsung song, he is widely worshipped by devotees. Also, there is a temple devoted to Khatushyam (Barbarika) where devotees sing the songs of his greatness and seek the blessings of this warrior who never fought any war!