Since you are a 'Kshatriya' or a "warrior', you should use your strength, that is you should use your might which you can get by seeking the blessings of 'Sureshwari Bhavani Bhagvati.' Therefore you should first worship the goddess. Barbareek again asked the Lord to which place he should go to meditate upon the goddess and seek her blessings. Then the Bhaktvatsal Lord Krishna told Barbareek to go to the meeting place of the oceans the meditate upon the 'Durgas' brought by Narada. Then heeding the venerable command of Shri Krishna, Barbareek proceeded. Reaching the meeting place of the oceans, he gained his perception and began to meditate upon the goddess. The goddess saw his intense meditation and determination and were so pleased that they granted him a boon that could not be accessed by anyone else in all the three worlds. The goddess said, "Son, we grant you unparalleled strength. Nobody will be able to defeat you in this world. But you stay here for a few more years because a Brahmin named Vijay will come here and you will receive even more blessings as a result of his company.

Barbareek stayed there following the goddess' command. The Brahmin named Vijay came there from Megadha and worshipping seven Shivlings, he became immersed in the meditation of the same goddess. The goddess came in the Brahmin's dream and blessed him and also asked him to meditate before the Sidha Mother to practice all his skills and learning. They told him that my devotee Barbareek would help him. Then that Brahmin named Vijay said to Barbareek, "Oh Brother! Please take care that my meditation is not disturbed till I practice all my skills." Therefore, Barbareek killed Replindu demon, and Dhruv-Dhruva demoness etc., who were obstructing in the Brahmin's meditation. He also killed the demons called Palasi who had been troubling Nagas from the Patal lok. On the killing of those demons, the king of the Nags, Vasuki came there and told Barbareek to ask for a boon. Barbareek humbly asked for a boon that the Brahmin Vijay's meditation may be completed uninterrupted.

At that time many Nag maidens seeing Barbareek's looks and bravery, were eager to marry him. But Barbareek told all of them that he had taken the vow of bachelorhood. Those Nag maidens were very pleased with his bahaviour and gave him the boon of being ever victorious. Thereafter the goddess granted Brahmin Vijay the boon of wealth and fortune and the Lord Shiva gave Barbareek three infallible arrows and blessing him, said that by using these arrows he would always be victorious in the three worlds.Devotees! These are the same three arrows which we worship as Lord Shyam's weapons. These are kept in every Shri Shyam's temple and are worshipped with great devoutness.

In gaining Sindh fortune and glory, that Brahmin became famous by the name of Sindhsen. After a long time of his leaving that area, the Pandava brothers also reached the Sindh pilgrimage after losing everything in gambling. All the Pandavas worshipped the goddess and then sat a little away to take some rest. Then according to God's will, Bhim stood up and without washing his hand and feet, entered the sacred pond and began rinsing and gargling his mouth. Barbareek became very angry on seeing this. He went to Bhim and asked him what kind of a pilgrim he was. He said, "You know the water from this pond is used for the worship of the goddess and you have entered the pond without even washing your hands and feet and you are also gargling and rinsing your mouth." At this, the strong Bhim also got very angry and both started fighting. Bhim was very proud of his might and even after applying all his strength he couldn't defeat Barbareek. Seeing this, Bhim became very depressed and at the same time, Lord Shiva appeared at that place with all the goddess. Lord Shiva told Bhim not to feel depressed as Barbareek was from his own family and was indeed his descendent. He is Barbareek, the son of your son Ghatotkachch. Now Barbareek was very sad at what he had done. He felt sad at having fought with his grandfather. He felt disdain for his life and he went ahead to end his life. Then the goddess, who had granted Barbareek the might and Lord Bholenath, advised Barbareek that this is not the time for him to end his life. On everybody's advice, Barbareek calmed down and reunited with his family. Even after meeting the Pandavas, the flame of devoutness and meditation was there in Barbareek's mind. The Pandavas also after completing their one-year of hidden identity stay in the forest began demanding their kingdom back. But then Duryodhan refused them even five villages, what to say of their Kingdom and finally the destructive war of Mahabharata was decided on. The battle of truth and the falsehood was sure to take place.

Barbareek also completed his meditation at the meeting place of the oceans, returned to his mother, and touched her feet. When Barbareek got the news of the battle of Mahabharata, he also wished to see the same and told his mother about his desire. Then his mother told him, "If you want to see the battle, then go. But you are so brave and courageous that if you feel the urge to participate in the war, what will you do?

Then Barbareek said, "Mother, I will first watch the battle and then afterwards I will join the side of the party which is losing." Then taking his mother's permission and blessing, the strong and mighty, courageous, friend of the loser, Barbareek rode a blue horse at the speed of wind and proceeded towards the battlefield of Mahabharata, Kurukshetra.

There, the hero of the Mahabharata, the omnipresent Lord Krishna saw through his divine foresight that a brave man astride on a blue horse was proceeding towards the battlefield with the speed of wind. Shri Krishna thought in his mind. "Let me examine this brave youth." And the playful God disguising himself as a Brahmin sat under a peepal tree, a little distance away from the battlefield. When Barbareek reached there, he saw the Brahmin sitting under the peepal tree and alighting from the horse; he bowed humbly to the Brahmin and stopped there. Then the Lord, in the guise of a Brahmin, asked him who he was and where he was going? Barbareek replied, "Oh Brahmin! My name is Barbareek and I am going towards the battlefield of Mahabharata." on this, the Lord said, "brave man, you are going towards a battlefield and that too with only three arrows." Barbareek replied, "Oh Brahmin! Let alone three arrows, of these only one arrow is enough to destroy the entire armies taking part in this war in one second and then it will return back to my quiver. If I use all the three arrows then there will be havoc in the three worlds. Everything will be destroyed and after completing their task, the arrows will return to my quiver." Then the Brahmin said, "Oh brave youth, why are you so arrogant about your courage and your arrows?" Barbareek answered," Oh Brahmin! This is not arrogance; this is the strength of my meditation, my worship. That is why I am proud of them. The Lord in the guise of the Brahmin said, "If you are so proud of your bravery, then tie all the leaves of the peepal tree under which I am sitting, with one arrow."

The brave Barbareek agreed to fulfill his wish. He removed one arrow from his quiver and concentrating on his meditation, he released the arrow after bringing it near him. Within moments, the arrow tied all the leaves of the peepal tree together. But Lord Krishna had one leaf under his foot. After tying the leaves on the tree the arrow started revolving around the Brahmin's foot. At this the Brahmin asked, "Oh Brave man, why is this arrow revolving around my foot." Barbareek told him that there must be a leaf under his foot and the arrow was revolving to tie the leaf. Then the Brahmin said, "If there is a leaf why is the arrow not tying it?" Barbareek told him that the arrow had been released to tide the leaves and not his foot. Hearing this, the Brahmin removed his foot and the arrow tied that leaf too and then returned to Barbareek's quiver.

Lord Shri Krishna said, "There is no doubt that you are brave, very brave. But tell me which side you will fight for in the battle." Barbareek told him, "Brahmin, actually I have come to see the battle. But then whichever side loses, I will fight for that side." Lord Krishna knew that Kauravas would definitely lose the battle. And if this brave man joins the losing side, then the scene of the whole battlefield would change. If this happened, then righteousness and religion would be destroyed and unrighteousness would emerge victorious."

The Lord in the guise of the Brahmin said, "you are surely very brave. But just being brave or courageous doesn't constitute the meaning of being of Kshatriya. A Kshatriya should be a philanthropist, as well. At this Barbareek said, "Today, anything you want from me. If it is under my control, I will surely fulfill your wish." Then the playful Lord Krishna said. "First you promise me and then I will ask for a boon", Barbareek promised and gave him his words and told him to ask for whatever he wants.
Then the playful Krishna said, "Oh brave man! Give me your head in charity."

Barbareek became speechless with astonishment. He said, "Oh Brahmin! I have given you my words and so I will surely give you my head. But first you tell me who you are and why do you want my head? Please disclose me your identity?

At this, Lord Krishna showed Barbareek his divine form and said, "Look Barbareek, before the battle in order to worship the battle field it is necessary to sacrifice a full, brave Kshatriya's head that is the bravest on this earth and no one is braver than you in this world. That's why I had asked for you head in charity."

Barbareek said, "Oh Lord, I have been your devotee since my childhood. It is my good fortune that you have asked for my head. But Oh Lord! I too have a wish. I wish to see this battle till its end. If you fulfill this wish of mine then my life will be a success and will have a new meaning to it." Lord Krishna said. "So be it! Oh brave Barbareek your wish will surely be fulfilled."

Previous.... /Next.....