A Delightful Story
I wanted to share a delightful but lesser known story in the Mahābhārata – a famous epic from the Hindu scriptural treasures. The crux of the Mahābhārata is the righteous war fought between two sets of cousins’ of the Kuru dynasty – the five Pandavās and the hundred Kauravās. It was a war of epic proportions like a world war. Most of the kingdoms participated in the war by siding with the Pandavās or the Kauravās. The Kauravās had much larger numbers on their side while the Pandavās had the Lord (Krishnā) Himself but in a non-combative capacity. At the start of the righteous war, Arjuna, the most gifted Pandavā warrior, experienced moral guilt at having to fight his own brethren, uncles, friends, teachers, etc and sought Lord Krishnā’s counsel. Lord Krishnā’s divine discourse in response, known as the celebrated Bhagavad Gitā (meaning Song of the Lord), in essence, outlines that the core of our existence is to discharge our righteous duty through selfless action without expectations.
[image error]Bhagavad Gitā – The The Song of the Lord
Before the Mahābhārata war began, Lord Krishnā wanted to assess the relative strengths of the two opposing armies. Lord Krishnā approached the most prominent stalwarts from the two armies and asked them how long they would take to finish the Mahābhārata war single handedly. Bheeshma, the patriarchal regent of the Kuru dynasty and grandsire of the Pandavās and Kauravās, said twenty days. Dronācharya, the exalted teacher of the Pandavās and Kauravās, said twenty-six days. Karna, the estranged Pandavā brother who fought on the side of the Kauravās, said twenty-four days. Arjuna, the most prominent warrior among the Pandavā brothers, said twenty-eight days. So it was a big surprise when Barbarika, a relatively unknown warrior from the Pandavā clan, said that he could end the war in a minute!
Barbarika, a lesser known character of the Mahābhārata, was the son of Ghatotkacha and the grandson of Bheema (one of the Pandavā brothers who was known for his superhuman strength and appetite). Barbarika was a brave warrior right from his childhood and was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He was taught the art of warfare by his mother, Maurvi. Lord Shiva was pleased with his talents and penance and gave him three powerful arrows, graced by the the eight principal deities, that had the power to conquer the whole world. The first arrow would mark all the targets to be destroyed, the second would mark all the targets to be saved and the third arrow would destroy all the targets marked for destruction and any other targets intended by the archer except those that were marked safe. At the end, the arrows would return to the quiver so they could be used again. He was also given a special bow to wield the arrows by Lord Agni (the Lord of fire). As gurudakshinā (an offering made to the Guru in lieu of the knowledge received), his mother, who was his Guru, made him promise that – 1. He would not fight for personal vengeance 2. He would always fight for the weaker side in a battle.
[image error]Barbarika – the warrior with the three powerful arrows to conquer the world
When Barbarika realized that the confrontation between the Pandavās and the Kauravās was imminent, he rode to the battlefield of Kurukshetra on his blue horse equipped with his bow and three arrows to witness the Mahābhārata war and participate in it. Lord Krishnā met Barbarika en route to test his phenomenal claim. When Barbarika approached Lord Krishnā, Lord Krishnā mocked him for showing up for battle with just a bow and three arrows. Barbarika explains to Lord Krishnā, the significance of the three arrows. Lord Krishnā challenges Barbarika to prove his claim by using his arrows to make a hole through all the leaves of the banyan tree (considering them as enemies) under which Lord Krishnā was standing. Barbarika starts meditating to release his arrow by closing his eyes. Lord Krishnā quietly plucks a leaf from the banyan tree and hides it under His foot.
When Barbarika releases his first arrow, it marks all the leaves of the banyan tree and then starts hovering around Lord Krishnā’s foot. Barbarika realizes that one or more leaves must be under Lord Krishnā’s feet and requests Him to raise his foot lest the arrow pierce it to mark the leaf. When Lord Krishnā does so, the arrow marks the leaf and returns to Barbarika’s quiver. When Barbarika releases the third arrow, it makes a hole through all the leaves of the banyan tree including the one under Lord Krishnā’s foot. Lord Krishnā concludes that the arrows are infallible because they can search out even hidden targets, that Barbarika is unaware of, and destroy them. None could escape these arrows making them even more powerful than the most powerful of weapons. Thus, Barbarika’s phenomenal claim of ending the Mahābhārata war in a minute was justified indeed.
Lord Krishnā then was curious to know who Barbarika planned to support in the war. Barbarika revealed the vows that he had taken to offer gurudakshinā to his mother (his Guru) that required him to always fight for the weaker side in a battle. The Pandavās had only seven akshauhinis (a battle unit prevalent at that time) while the Kauravās had eleven akshauhinis. Hence, Lord Krishnā surmised that Barbarika would have to fight for the Pandavās. Given the power of his arrows, Lord Krishnā realized that Barbarika would significantly weaken the opposing side, then switch and join the now weakened opposing side (to fulfil his vow) and continue in this manner until both armies were completely destroyed and he remained the sole survivor. Since neither side would emerge victorious, it would defeat the purpose for which the righteous war was being fought – to defeat the evil forces convincingly and restore and uphold dharma (righteousness).
[image error]Barbarika sacrificing his head to Lord Krishna
Lord Krishnā then explains to Barbarika that the head of the bravest warrior of the clan needs to be sacrificed before the war to purify the battlefield and to ensure victory for his grandfathers, the Pandavās. Considering Barbarika to be the bravest warrior, Lord Krishnā asks Barbarika to offer his head (essentially his life) in sacrifice thus avoiding his participation in the war. Barbarika readily accedes to Lord Krishnā’s request. Before decapitating himself, Barbarika requests Lord Krishnā to fulfil his desire to witness the epic Mahābhārata war. Lord Krishnā is pleased with Barbarika’s selfless sacrifice and promises him that He Himself will give life to Barbarika’s severed head and arrange to have it placed on the hill overlooking the battlefield so Barbarika could witness the Mahābhārata war. Barbarika was one of only four people to view Lord Krishnā’s vishwaroopa form (the supreme form of Vishnu with the whole universe contained in His Supreme Being) that was revealed to Arjuna after the Bhagavad Gitā discourse. The other three were Arjuna, Lord Hanumān (who was seated on the flag in Arjuna’s chariot) and Sanjaya who witnessed the proceedings of the Mahābhārata war using his divine vision to narrate to the blind king, Dhritrāshtra, the father of the Kauravās.
[image error]Lord Krishnā’s vishwaroopa form
Only twelve warriors including all five Pandavās brothers survived the Mahābhārata war. After the war, the Pandavās argued amongst themselves to find out the greatest amongst them who should be credited with the victory. Krishnā suggested that Barbarika who was a silent witness to the whole war would be best suited to give them a neutral judgement. The Pandavās walked up the hill where Barbarika’s head was kept. When the Pandavās queried Barbarika, he burst out laughing loudly and uncontrollably. He continued laughing for a long time and then laughed some more. The Pandavās were quite agitated by his rude behaviour. When Barbarika finally came around, he looked at them scornfully and said, “You fools! Forget about having anything to do with the victory in the war. How could you even think that you did anything at all? All I could see was Krishnā… Krishnā… Krishnā… and Kāli… Kāli… Kāli… The divine Sudarshana chakra (the celestial weapon of Lord Krishnā) was spinning all around the battlefield, killing all those who were opposed to dharma. The supreme goddess Kāli (the original form of Draupadi – the wife of the Pandavās) had her tongue spread out on the battle field and consumed all the sinners as her sacrifice.” As soon as this was said, a shower of flowers rained on Barbarika from the sky and the divine melodies were heard. The Pandavās realized that it was Lord Narayana and Goddess Kali who actually cleaned up the world to restore and uphold dharma, and the Pandavās were mere instruments.
Does this story ring a bell? Mohanji always says that people working together for the Tradition are participating in a grand collaboration. There is no higher and lower. Be it a Master or disciple. Or the role or the capacity in which they operate. Everyone is insignificant as compared to the Tradition that sent them. The cog in the wheel and the engine motor are equally important for the car to function smoothly wherein each part is expected to play its role to perfection. How we do what we are given is more important than what we do? Relative importance or hierarchy are all plays of the ego. In fact, Masters like Mohanji practice insignificance to demonstrate that being completely insignificant is being extremely powerful because only then does the full strength of the Tradition operate through them.
As we allow the Tradition to operate more and more through us, we start delivering beyond our perceived limitations and start getting closer and closer to our true potential as a human being. At that point, the ego does raise its ugly head and demands its pound of flesh in the form of doership or ownership. It makes us believe that we are special and the results are due to our own inherent abilities and capabilities. The attention, applause and accolades deceive us into believing this false projection. Much like the Pandavās forgetting that it was Lord Krishnā doing everything through them.
If you buy into the ego’s story, you lose the way and get lost in the illusory jungle of spiritual ignorance. A big trap for every spiritual seeker who is becoming a worthier soldier of the Tradition. As a wise man, Mohana Hanumatānandā, from Macedonia once said, “We have to be alert and aware all the time. I always sleep with one eye open.”
As Mohanji says, “Beware! Ownership = Karma“. This is the true essence of the Bhagavad Gitā.
[image error]Masters like Mohanji practice insignificance
