Devotee:
Pronam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pronam. Speak.
Devotee:
Gurudev, regarding our Mahabharata... I mean the history, which is famous as the longest history in the world. Within it, there are many types of characters—great characters, small characters, famous warriors, and kings. Among them, there is a character named Barbarika. If you could tell us something about Barbarika and why he is later called Khatu Shyam?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There are temples as well; you will find Khatu Shyam temples. This name was given by Krishna. Krishna himself named him Khatu Shyam and said, "People will know you by this name. Whoever is repeatedly facing defeat in anything, if they worship you or offer prayers to you, and even if they catch a single glimpse of you, that person will achieve victory." His main temple is in Rajasthan—the Khatu Shyam Temple. There is another one in Alambazar, Kolkata.
Devotee:
Actually, who is Barbarika? If you could explain his lineage.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
His lineage is quite significant. You know Bhima, right? When Bhima was in exile, he met Hidimba. Hidimba was a demoness who, through various means, controlled Bhima and eventually married him. Their son was Ghatotkacha. And Ghatotkacha's son was Barbarika. The entire family was incredibly powerful in every aspect. In fact, Barbarika was so strong that he once defeated Bhima in a wrestling match. Later, when the family found out, they scolded him, saying, "How could you do this to your own grandfather?" He didn't really know who Bhima was at the time; he didn't recognize him.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Now, when the Mahabharata war began—the war of Kurukshetra—a thought occurred to Krishna: when will this war end? He went to every great warrior in the Mahabharata and asked, "How long will it take you to finish this war?" No one could give a satisfactory answer. Some said eighteen days, some twenty-one, some twenty-two, others twenty-five. But Krishna wasn't satisfied. He wished for the war to end at a specific time.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It was during this time that he met Barbarika. Krishna asked him, "I have heard you are a great warrior. Can you end the war of Kurukshetra?" Barbarika replied, "Maharaj, if I wanted to, I could finish it in a single day."
Devotee:
Or even in a moment... he said he could end the war in an instant.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes. Krishna wondered, "How is it possible for him to end the war so quickly when there are so many great warriors?" He asked, "How can I believe your words?" Barbarika replied, "Maharaj, do one thing. I have nothing but these three arrows. With these three arrows, I can end the war."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Krishna asked how. Barbarika explained, "I have three arrows. I use one arrow for my family, one for my friends and relatives, and the third one is such that I can stop anything at any time."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Krishna then said, "If that is so, do one thing. See this Peepal tree? Pierce every single leaf on this tree. Let me see your power; only then will I believe you can end the war in a day or an hour."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Barbarika then began his archery. He shot the third arrow. The leaves of the tree began to fall one by one as they were pierced. Krishna was watching, and he secretly placed one leaf under his foot. The arrow came towards Krishna's foot to move it so it could pierce the leaf underneath. Barbarika said to Krishna, "Please move your foot, otherwise, you will be wounded. The arrow will not leave you alone." Krishna moved his foot, and that leaf was pierced as well.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
In this way, he pierced every leaf. Krishna, with his divine vision, realized that this was a terrifying warrior. He realized that Barbarika would fight for whichever side was losing. If the Pandavas started winning, he would join the Kauravas. If the Pandavas started losing, he would join them. In doing so, the entire lineage of both the Kauravas and Pandavas would be destroyed.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
So, Krishna asked for something from Barbarika. He asked for his head. Barbarika agreed, saying, "Fine, I will give you my head. But place my head on a hilltop overlooking the battlefield. I want to watch the war."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
And so it happened. His head was placed on the hill, and he watched the entire war. Afterward, many people came and asked, "Who was the greatest warrior? Who was the hero who truly drove this war?"
Devotee:
Yes, many asked Krishna who the greatest warrior of the Mahabharata was.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Krishna replied, "I was only a charioteer in the battlefield; I cannot say. But there is one person who sat on the mountain peak and observed the entire war."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
They all went to Barbarika. When they asked him, Barbarika said, "The greatest warrior of this Mahabharata war is Shri Krishna himself. His Sudarshana Chakra was invisibly decapitating everyone throughout the war. No one else could see it, but I saw it."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
This is the story of the Mahabharata. Many people do not know about Barbarika. Krishna, pleased with him, said, "From now on, in the Kali Yuga, you will be famous as Khatu Shyam. Everyone will worship you as Khatu Shyam. Those who are losing in the struggles of life, if they seek your sight, they will achieve victory."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
This is how it continues today. There is a temple in Alambazar, one in Rajasthan, and I have heard there is one somewhere near Howrah as well, though I am not certain.
Devotee:
He is worshipped with Tulsi leaves. He is worshipped with Tulsi leaves on Ekadashi.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, that is correct. This was a short story I wanted to tell the people.
Devotee:
Pronam, Gurudev. Let us end it here.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pronam. May God bless you.