Barbarik: The Selfless Warrior of the Mahabharata Who Witnessed the Great War

Barbarik was the son of Ghatotkach and Ahilavati and the grandson of Bhima. When the Mahabharata war was going on, he got a boon from Lord Shri Krishna that he could see this fierce war between Kauravas and Pandavas.

Barbarik was a very brave warrior, it is said that he had acquired divine power through penance, Barbarik had three such arrows, with which the entire army could be destroyed in the battlefield in a minute. These were such arrows which would hit their target and return back to it. That's why no one could ever defeat him

Barbarik wanted to fight the war of Mahabharata, that is why he had set out for Kurukshetra. When Shri Krishna came to know about this, he felt that if Barbarik came, the outcome of the war would be reversed. Shri Krishna disguised himself as a Brahmin and reached in front of Barbarik.

Shri Krishna, in the guise of a Brahmin, asked for alms from Barbarik. When Barbarik asked what he wanted in alms, Lord Shri Krishna asked for his head in alms and Barbarik came to know that he was not an ordinary person. When he asked for his identity, Shri Krishna Barbarik came in his real guise and after seeing Shri Krishna in person, he offered his head.

Barbarik placed a condition before Shri Krishna that he also wanted to see the war of Mahabharata. Shri Krishna placed Barbarik's head on a high mount from where the entire view of the war was visible.

Shri Krishna had asked for the head of Barbarik because he could not take part in the war of Mahabharata, because if he had taken part in the war, Barbarik would have fought on the side which was losing in the war, because Barbarik's mother had taught that always In battle he had to support the weaker side, that is why Barbarik always fought on behalf of the losing side. Barbarik was taught warfare skills by his mother. Barbarika is also said to be the human reincarnation of Yaksha.

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