Story of Barbarika

Episode#43

Before Mahabharata war began, Vasudev Krishna asked all Pandavas how many days they would take to finish the war of Mahabharata alone. Bhisma Pitamah answered that he would take 20 days, Drona replied 25 days, Karna said 24 days and Arjuna told 28 days, when he asked how many days he would take to finish the war alone, Barbarika answered that he could finish it in one minute. He stated that a single arrow is enough to destroy all his opponents in the war, and it would then return back to his quiver.

Barbarika was the grandson of Bhima the son of Ghatokacha, Barbarika was very brave in his childhood, and he learned the art of warfare from his mother. The god ashtadev gave him the three infallible arrows, hence he was known as "Bearer of Three Arrows" when Barbarika learnt that battle between Pandavas and Kauravas as has become inevitable, he felt the urge to participate in the battle and witness the Mahabharata war. He promised his mother that he would join the weaker side. He rode to the battlefield on his blue horse equipped with his three arrows and bow.

Vasudev Krishna asked "How he will finish this great war just in three arrows?" He replied that "first arrow is used to mark all the things that he wants to destroy, if he uses second arrow, it will mark all the things he wants to save and if he uses third arrow, it will destroy all the things that are not marked and then return to his quiver. In other words, with one arrow he can fix all the targets and destroy with another arrow.

Vasudev Krishna then asked the boy "to whom he will support?" Barbarika reveals as per promise given to his mother he will fight for the weaker side. Krishna made him understood whichever side he support makes other side weaker, thus, in actual war, he will keep oscillating between two sides, thereby destroying the entire army of both sides and eventually only he would remain alive. Subsequently none of the sides would become victorious and he would be the lone survivor. Hence, Krishna avoids his participation in the war.

Krishna challenges young Barbarika to tie all the leaves under which he is standing, Barbarika closed his eyes and meditates Krishna quietly hides one leaf under his foot. When Barbarika releases his first arrow it marks all the leaves of banyan tree and finally started hovering around Krishna's leg, Krishna asked him why the arrow is hovering around his leg? Barbarika replied that there must be a leaf under your feet and the arrow is targeting his foot to mark the leaf hidden underneath. Krishna lifts his feet and arrow marks the hidden leaf.

Krishna then sought a charity from Barbarika and promised whatever he wished, Krishna asked him to give his head in charity. Barbarika was shocked and reluctant. Krishna showed Barbarika a vision of his Divine form and Barbarika thus grace. Krishna explained him that before the war the head of the bravest Kshatriya needs to be sacrificed, in order to worship / sanctity the battlefield and you are the bravest among all. Barbarika told Krishna of his desire to view the forthcoming battle and requested him to facilitate the same. Krishna agreed and upon the commencement of the war he placed his head on the top of the hill overlooking the battlefield of Kurukshetra and thus Barbarika watched the entire Mahabharata war.

In other version of the story tells, that the first arrow indeed pierce Krishna's feet and marks the leaf hidden under the Krishna's foot. This becomes the weak spot of Krishna; prior to this event Krishna got a boon from sage Durvasa that his entire body except his leg will be immune to all weapons, hence only his leg will be vulnerable.

In the end of Kurukshetra war, when Krishna revives Abhimanyu's son Parikshit, he loses half of his strength, weakening him further. Later, in the Mausalaparva, a hunter by name Jara hits Krishna's foot with arrow, mistaking him for deer. This leads to the death of Krishna.

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