THE DIVINE STORY OF BARBARIK
In the sacred age of the Mahabharata, there lived a warrior whose valor was unmatched and whose devotion was pure. His name was Barbarik, the beloved grandson of mighty Bhima and the son of the valiant Ghatotkacha. Gifted by the Divine Mother herself, Barbarik possessed three celestial arrows, each filled with divine power. With these three arrows alone, he was capable of ending the great war of Kurukshetra in a single moment.
As the conch shells echoed across the battlefield, Barbarik arrived at Kurukshetra and stood calmly beneath a peepal tree, right between the armies of the Kauravas and the Pandavas. With folded hands and unwavering faith, he declared,
“I shall fight from the side that is losing.”
This vow, born out of compassion, stirred deep concern in the heart of Lord Krishna, the knower of all destinies. Krishna foresaw that such unmatched power, bound by an innocent promise, could destroy both sides and disrupt the divine purpose of the war.
To understand the depth of Barbarik’s strength, Krishna approached him along with Arjuna. Smiling gently, Krishna pointed to a tree and said,
“If you can pierce every leaf of this tree with a single arrow, I will accept your greatness.”
With humble reverence, Barbarik released his arrow. Miraculously, the arrow pierced every leaf, one after another. A single leaf fell to the ground unnoticed. Seeing this, Krishna softly placed His foot upon it. Yet the arrow, obedient to its master’s command, halted near Krishna’s feet.
Barbarik bowed and said,
“O Lord, there is still one leaf beneath Your foot. Please remove it. I instructed the arrow to pierce leaves—not Your divine feet.”
At that moment, Krishna understood that Barbarik’s power was not merely martial—it was governed by divine discipline and unwavering intent.
Knowing the danger that lay ahead, Krishna adopted the gentle form of a Brahmin and visited Barbarik’s camp at dawn. In a humble voice, He asked for alms. Barbarik welcomed Him with devotion and said,
“Ask for anything, revered one.”
The Brahmin smiled and replied,
“I shall ask for something you may not be able to give.”
Yet without hesitation, Barbarik agreed.
Then came the divine request: his head.
Without fear, without sorrow, and without hesitation, Barbarik bowed before Krishna. For the victory of dharma and the welfare of his ancestors, the Pandavas, he willingly offered his head in supreme sacrifice.
Before doing so, Barbarik expressed one final wish—to witness the great war. Moved by his devotion, Lord Krishna granted him divine vision and placed his sacred head upon a high place from where he could see the entire battlefield.
After bathing, praying, and singing hymns through the night, Barbarik offered his head to Krishna on Phalguna Shukla Dwadashi, attaining immortality through sacrifice.
As the war ended and the Pandavas debated over who deserved credit for victory, Krishna smiled and said,
“Let Barbarik decide.”
From his divine vantage point, Barbarik spoke the eternal truth:
“It was only Krishna’s Sudarshan Chakra that fought on both sides, and Draupadi herself appeared as Goddess Kali, drinking the blood of the unrighteous.”
Pleased beyond measure, Lord Krishna blessed Barbarik and said,
“In the age of Kaliyuga, you shall be worshipped in My own name. Whoever remembers you with faith shall never be defeated by despair.”
Thus, Barbarik became Khatu Shyam—
the God of the defeated,
the protector of the helpless,
the eternal symbol of sacrifice, devotion, and grace.
Even today, devotees bow before Khatu Shyam Ji, knowing that where hope fades, Shyam Baba stands as eternal support.
