Barbarika - The Epitome of Sacrifice

“Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness,” says Napoleon Hill, an American author.  On this very line lies the story of Barbarika, the epitome of sacrifice as mentioned. Barbarika had to sacrifice his life to safeguard DHARMA.

He is worshipped as Khatushyamji in Rajasthan, and is said to have been sacrificed before the Mahabharata war to guarantee the triumph of his grandfathers, the Pandavas. In return for his sacrifice, he was deified by the blessings of Krishna.

Barbarika deified as Khatushyamji

Barbarika was born to Ghatothkach, the son of Bheem and his wife Hidimba. Being the son of a demon, Barbarika was a very bold warrior from his childhood. He was nurtured by his grandmother, Hidimba. And under the aegis of his mother, Mourvi, he learnt the art of war. Many scripts say that, Lord Krishna tutored Barbarika the essence of life and hence Lord Krishna was considered to be the Guru of Barbarika.

Barbarika offered a great penance to satisfy Lord Shiva.  Pleased with Barbarika’s tapasya, Lord Shiva granted him three disastrous arrows that could finish any war in few minutes.  Barbarika was also gifted with a great bow by Agni, the fire god. In the pride of the boons he acquired, Barbarika took a pledge to stand on the side of the weak to face the strong, so as to prove himself undefeatable.

Barbarika with his three arrows

In the war of Mahabharata, Pandavas had only seven Akshauhinis. While the rivals, Kauravas had Eleven Akshauhinis. From this Barbarika learnt that his family (Pandavas), which is going to wage a war in the land of Kurukshetra, is the weak when compared to the Kauravas and so he decided to take the side of Pandavas in the war.

On his decision, everyone was happy. But the mastermind of Pandavas, Lord Krishna felt that Barbarika could be threat as he knew Barbarika’s oath to stand on the side of weak . He enquired Barbarika about the strength of the three arrows.

"Oh! Guru Krishna, the three arrows that I possess are invincible. One among them helps me to mark the enemies while the other helps to unmark those whom I wanted to save. The last and the fierceful one will destroy any thing that is marked,” answered Barbarika.

"Then, why don’t you demonstrate those arrows? Mark all the leaves of this peepal tree under which we are standing and destroy them,” Krishna says pointing a peepal tree.

While Barbarika took his first arrow and started chanting the mantra, Krishna plucked a leaf and hid it under his feet. Barbarika left the arrow from his bow. It marked all the leaves and to his astonishment it also marked Krishna’s feet. And then he learns that Lord Krishna had hid a leaf under his feet to test the power of his arrows. Barbarika asks Krishna to lift his leg, else the second arrow will pierce into his feet to destroy the target.

From this Lord Krishna concludes that the arrows are treacherous, they can even destroy the targets that are unknown and invisible to Barbarika. Then Krishna explains Barbarika, “Oh Dear Barbarika, with these three arrows you are indeed undefeatable and the side you support will be the winning side and opponents will obviously be the losing side. You have to shift sides to keep your oath. This will lead to total destruction leaving no one alive.”

Realising the facts Barbarika decides to not to be a part of war and to stay away from the it. But Krishna felt the Kauravas may take advantage of Barbarika and his arrows. So Krishna asks “Barbarika, you consider me to be your teacher. Today, I need your head as guru dakshina (Gift to teacher).” Barbarika, who was intelligent understood the reason behind Krishna’s desire and wishing to witness the war even after his death, slayed himself and offered his head to Lord Krishna.

Barbarika watching the Battle

Barbarika’s sacrifice to safeguard Dharma to was lauded by the heavens. Happy with the offering, Krishna took the head to a mountain and hanged it there so that Barbarika can watch the great battle even after his death. After the war, every warrior claimed the victory to be the result of his valour. Barbarika, who witnessed the war, proclaimed that he saw only Lord Krishna doing the war and it’s only him who has done everything. Lord Krishna then grants moksha to Barbarika.

The sacrifice of Barbarika helped Krishna to re-establish Dharma killing all the evil in the battle.