“The gigantic armies of the Kauravas and the Pandavas are on the battlefield. With hostility and aggression, the warriors blow their conch shells releasing vibrations and energy.” Barbarik’s head stood on the mountain overlooking the Kurukshetra field to witness the greatest war. As the armies approached and clashed with each other, Barbarik gently closed his eyes, remembering the promise he made to his mother and the sacrifice that led him to chop off his head and witness the war.
“How many days would you take to end the battle of Kurukshetra?” asked Krishna, disguised as a Brahman.
” A minute” replied Barbarik confidently.
“Just a minute?”
” I can finish the great battle alone with the 3 arrows I have. A single arrow is enough to destroy all my rivals in the war.” Barbarik took a deep breath and continued as the Brahmin was keenly receiving all that he said. “The first arrow would mark all the targets I choose to destroy. The second arrow could be used to protect all the targets that I choose to defend. And the third arrow would destroy all the targets that were marked by the first arrow and will return to its quiver.”
Krishna raised his eyebrow in disbelief. Observing the calm but confident energy of the grandson of Bhima, Krishna challenged him to prove his abilities.
“I challenge you to tie all the leaves of the Peepal tree under which you stand using your arrows,” said Krishna.
Barbarik complied with the wish of the Brahman and closed his eyes to begin his meditation to summon the arrows and their strengths. Barbarik chanted a mantra and fired his first arrow which marked all the leaves of the tree and began hovering around the Brahman’s left leg.
“Brahmana, please lift your leg before the arrow pierces through it to mark the leaf underneath your foot.” Krishna lifted his leg, realizing the power of the arrows that could mark all hidden targets intended to destroy. Barbarik then muttered another mantra and fired the third arrow that collected all the leaves including the leaf hidden under Krishna’s leg and tied them together.
“Your weapon is indeed powerful and infallible. It will certainly destroy all the targets marked by you. These three arrows of yours can end the war. Are you here to fight for the Pandavas or the Kauravas?” asked Krishna nervously.
” I intend to fight for the weaker side. The Kauravas having 11 akshauhini compared to the 7 of the Pandavas, I would fight for the Pandavas. I have promised my mother to always fight for the weaker army.”
“Do you realize this promise of yours would destroy the entire army and all the warriors of both the Kauravas and the Pandavas? The side you choose to support would ultimately make the other side weaker. You would end up oscillating between the two armies, thereby destroying the entire army of both the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Only you would survive the war.”
On weighing the consequences of the promise he made to his mother, Barbarik knew he must not engage in the war.
“Oh Brahmana, I must then not engage in the war, for if I did, in compliance to the promise I made to my mother, I would end up destroying both the armies. This would destroy the establishment of Dharma. And nor should I break the promise I made to my mother.”
On further consideration, Krishna revealed to him that he believed Barbarik to be the bravest and strongest Kshatriya and so in accordance with the ritual, the head of the bravest Kshatriya had to be sacrificed before the war.
” I sacrificed myself for the war. I complied with Krishna’s command and beheaded myself to sanctify the battle. I could have ended the war but that would destroy the purpose of the war- establishing Dharma. The screams of the warriors and the rage of the swords and arrows are piercing my soul but I feel serene. I get to witness the greatest battle. I get to witness Lord Krishna himself on the battlefield, paving the way for the victory of Pandavas with his divine knowledge and skills. I get to witness the warriors at their last moments- their stories of bravery and courage would inspire generations. Though the war haunts every soul who fights, it would carve out legends who would lead the world with their lives and stories. The war has just begun and the bodies pierced with arrows and swords are lying on the warm dry sand of Kurukshetra. Though the Pandavas are fighting ferociously, their eyes reflect the sorrow their heart holds. Though they fight for Dharma, their soul shivers every time an arrow is fired at the Kauravas. My grandfather, Bheem is roaring as he valiantly strikes his enemies with his Gada(mace). Bhishma Pitahmah and Guru Drona are consuming hundreds of soldiers as they fire the golden arrows and pave their ways to steal the victory that they know deep within lies with the Pandavas. At a far end of the battlefield, Dhritarashtra is nervously attending to the words of Sanjaya who is narrating every moment of the war to the blind king. Duryodhan with his close allies is consuming the soldiers on the other end and screaming the evil sounds of Adharma. And amongst all these warriors that fight the war, every warrior is fighting a war within. Their soul scream with pain as they fire arrows and swords at the enemies who happen to be their own brothers and loved ones. But as Krishna says, this is greater than just a war. It is the establishment of Dharma. It is not about killing your brothers, but is about killing the Adharma. Krishna is the warrior paving way for Dharma. I bow at him.”