Post by jksivan on Sept 20, 2013 19:59:16 GMT 5.5
Dear Children
79 ‘’The three arrows‘’
You learnt about Aravan in the previous story. To day you will know about Barabarikan. He is an interesting character. if this story failed to be interesting, then the fault lies with my ability to tell you his story, because he certainly is one with a rare ability and quality and honesty.
The Maha Bharath epic war was about to commence. Both Kauravas and Pandavas were fully prepared for the war and ready to commence at the appointed hour.
Krishna was gathering information discretely about the likely duration of the war. He obtained the views of the top leaders of the war on both sides.
“Bheeshma Grand Pa, if you lead this war and take full charge, how long do you think you would need to end the war, of course, winning it ?
Bheeshma replied with a laugh, ‘’Just twenty days is more than enough for me ‘’
‘’It can be ended maximum in 25 days’’ remarked Dhronacharya.
Karna said ‘’Why one extra day, in just 24 days it will be won and finished’’
‘’Krishna, I may need, without anyone’s help to win this in maximum 28 days.’’
Bharbarika was the son of Gatothkach. So he was the grand son of Bheema is n't it ?. He was partly demonic in his descendance, and so very strong like Bheema. Like his father, Gatothkach, he was well trained and clever in Mayajaal feats and tatics, to baffle enemies. He was a great devotee of Lord Siva also.
Krishna knew about Bharbarika and his enormous strength and ingenuity in war techniques. He was worried about the role of Bharbarika in the war.
You know, Krishna sometimes conveniently takes the form of a Brahmin to achieve his purpose, and thus he approached Bharbarika..
When Bharbarika learnt that an old Brahmin had come to see him, he thought the old Brahmin might have come for asking for some alms. He asked the Brahmin ‘’ Who are you sir and what do you want?’’
It must be known that Bharbarika was very philanthropic and helped many poor people and Brahmins giving them gifts, charities, food items, gold and silver ornaments and whatever they begged and asked from him. That is why he thought the Brahmin had come seeking some charity.
''Oh, King Bharbarika, I was on myway from Hasthinapur to your place, and throughout my long journey I have heard a lot of news and most of which was about the biggest war that is going to happen between Pandavas and Kauravas. I also heard about your exceptional valour, intelligent warfare tactics, matchless prowess, and immense talents. Also you are praised by every one as a very chartable minded philanthropist. You are one who will give anything asked by those who approached you for alms, I was told . All these made me find my way to your place and meet you,’’
Bharbarika laughed. ’Brahmin maharaj, what you heard is not untrue’’ I shall be pleased to grant you whatever you wish from me.’’
Let me clarify some general matters first from you .
‘’Is it true that there will be a big war between kings and if that is going to happen, are you going to play any role in it??
“It is true. There is going to be a war between two great forces, Pandavas and Kauravas shortly. But I have not decided or interested myself in it. May be someone from both sides will visit me soliciting my participation in their favour when I will make a final decision .”’
‘’Bharbarika, I learnt that Kauvara army is three times bigger and stronger than the Pandava army. How can they defend themselves?
Supposing you join the Pandavas who may seek your help, do you think you will be able to win the war defeating the Kauravas?
Bharbarika laughed again. ‘’I don’t need any forces to join in destroying the opponent. I alone can finish both the sides in one minute time!’’ said the demonic king .’’
"My dear King, you may be strong and powerful. Does that mean that you can under-estimate the strength of the armed forces of the opponent. It may be mistaken if you say so, that you are imagining that you are all powerful. Sorry, I am an innocent Brahmin but am interested to know this from you, a great warrior of many battle experience.’’
‘’Brahmin ji, I am not exaggerating. I am telling you the truth. Listen, I have 3 special arrows, they are enough to destroy everything and everyone from both sides of the war!’’.
Krishna, the old Brahmin laughed. ‘’ How can just 3 arrows destroy the entire armed forces of the great Pandavas and the Kauravas? It appears unbelievable and not quite convincing!’’
‘’Come on Brahmin ji , you seem to be interested in knowing about my prowess and I feel you are doubting my ability. Look, this is the first arrow. If I aim it , it will mark and identify all the people I wish to attack and kill and return back to me. Do you see?’’
Then I need to send this second arrow, which will remove from those already marked, whom I don’t want to kill from the marking/identification made by the first arrow,and return back to me’’
‘’Very interesting King Bharbarika” I have never heard about all these. Then what will happen?’’
‘’All I need to do is to aim my last, the third arrow, to kill those who are marked and identified by the first arrow except those excluded from it, by the second arrow, which means that all others will be killed without fail in no time. The third arrow will finish the job and come back to me. All these will be in less than a minute time . Do you now understand ’’
‘’My dear King, it is marvellous, and you are really great. I absolutely believe in what you say. But can you demonstrate for my curiosity, by asking your arrows to do what I say?’’ .
‘’why not. I am surprised a Brahmin like you is so much interested in testing the ability of my arrows but I wish to satisfy you because you will go everywhere and tell about this.’’
‘’Oh, King Bharbarika, I admire your respecting even an old brahmin’s words with patience. I just want to see whether your arrows can do a small work. Just look at the huge tree before us. Can your arrows pluck all the leaves of the tree, just leave only ten leaves in the tree, bundle them, bring and put the bundle here before us.’’
‘’What a simple task is this. Just see. Bharbarika took the first arrow, uttered the manthra and issued instruction to mark all the leaves in the tree shown by the Brahmin. He discharged the arrow. While Bharbarika was busy in uttering the manthra to release the arrow, Krishna just plucked a single leaf from the tree and put it under his right foot hiding it. The first arrow went to the tree identified the leaves there and instead of going back to Bharbarika, it came near Krishna and circled his right foot to identify the hidden leaf belonging to the tree!!
‘’Krishna, the old Brahmin, asked Bharbarika, ‘’Oh King why this arrow is circling my right foot repeatedly?’’
‘’Brahmin ji, did you take any leaf from the tree and are you keeping it with you in your body?’ Since the arrow is circling your right foot, just lift it and see if there is any arrow underneath’ enquired Bharbarika.
The moment Krishna lifted his right foot, the arrow marked the loose leaf and returned back to Bharbarika.’’
Bharbarika sent the second arrow instructing it to leave the first 10 leaves in the first branch of the tree and re-number all the other leaves of the tree. It did its job and came back to him in no time.
Bharbarika then sent his third arrow, instructing it to pluck and collect all the marked leaves of the tree, without touching the ten leaves ‘’unmarked’’ by the second arrow, and bring the plucked leaves in a bundle and put before the Brahmin.
In lightning speed the third arrow completely denuded the tree and all the leaves except the 10 left over leaves, but picking up even the one leaf which was lying under Krishna’s right foot, bundled them all, brought and put before the Brahmin.!
In no time, the Brahmin found a mountain of leaves neatly bundled lying before him and the tree presented a pathetic picture, with not a single leaf barring the ten leaves in one branch.
Krishna could not control his shock and surprise.
‘’King Bharbarika, I fully appreciate your Mayajal and great skill in handling weapons and war equipment and am fully convinced that you can win the war in one minute time without anyone’s support. Why don’t you help the Pandavas who may need your help, as their forces are qiuite less in number and size from those of the Kauravas. Your 3 arrows will be a great boon to the Pandavas’’
‘’Krishna, I will help that side which is losing the battle by identifying them, marking only the opponents and destroy them. Then the other side will automatically lose strength. I will join the losing side, and attack the opposite side and destroy them. So I will fight for those who lose whoever it may be, Kauravas or Pandavas as I find them losing strength from time to time, changing sides. ''
Krishna, the old Brahmin, immediately realised the danger involved in this process. Bharbarika would first join Pandavas and attack Kauravas. When they lose he will join the Kauravas and attack Pandavas and weaken them. He will thus shift his support and ultimately there will be no one other than Bharbarika left behind as he would have destroyed both sides. Krishna decided that Bharbarika should not be a part of the Mahabharath war.
"Brahmin swamiji, what are you thinking? Did not you appreciate or understand my strategy’’ asked Bharbarika,
‘’Nothing Bharbarika. I was wondering if what some one had told me about you, was an exaggeration. I was told that Bharbarika is someone no one can fight with and win’’ I now understand that it was really true. I therefore wanted to verify your true ability ánd ascertain whether you are truthful and a great philanthropist who will not back out of his commitment, before asking you to grant my wish”’
‘’Old brahmin ji, you are right. I will never go back on my commitment once I commit and you may ask your wish and I assure you that I will stand by it’’
‘’Bharbarika, I want your head, cut it and give me!’’ asked Krishna
Bharbarika laughed and without hesitation, took his third arrow, instructed it to cut his head and put it on the old brahmin’s hands.
Dear children, from the story of Bharbarika, you will learn that in those days even if it was a rakshasa, asura or demon, one did not back out from a promise and honoured the commitment even at the cost of one’s life. Krishna decided rightly to remove Bharbarika from the scene of war but felt he missed another great hero of Pandava clan in him, like Aravaan. These two heroes died even before the war commenced is a sad news
79 ‘’The three arrows‘’
You learnt about Aravan in the previous story. To day you will know about Barabarikan. He is an interesting character. if this story failed to be interesting, then the fault lies with my ability to tell you his story, because he certainly is one with a rare ability and quality and honesty.
The Maha Bharath epic war was about to commence. Both Kauravas and Pandavas were fully prepared for the war and ready to commence at the appointed hour.
Krishna was gathering information discretely about the likely duration of the war. He obtained the views of the top leaders of the war on both sides.
“Bheeshma Grand Pa, if you lead this war and take full charge, how long do you think you would need to end the war, of course, winning it ?
Bheeshma replied with a laugh, ‘’Just twenty days is more than enough for me ‘’
‘’It can be ended maximum in 25 days’’ remarked Dhronacharya.
Karna said ‘’Why one extra day, in just 24 days it will be won and finished’’
‘’Krishna, I may need, without anyone’s help to win this in maximum 28 days.’’
Bharbarika was the son of Gatothkach. So he was the grand son of Bheema is n't it ?. He was partly demonic in his descendance, and so very strong like Bheema. Like his father, Gatothkach, he was well trained and clever in Mayajaal feats and tatics, to baffle enemies. He was a great devotee of Lord Siva also.
Krishna knew about Bharbarika and his enormous strength and ingenuity in war techniques. He was worried about the role of Bharbarika in the war.
You know, Krishna sometimes conveniently takes the form of a Brahmin to achieve his purpose, and thus he approached Bharbarika..
When Bharbarika learnt that an old Brahmin had come to see him, he thought the old Brahmin might have come for asking for some alms. He asked the Brahmin ‘’ Who are you sir and what do you want?’’
It must be known that Bharbarika was very philanthropic and helped many poor people and Brahmins giving them gifts, charities, food items, gold and silver ornaments and whatever they begged and asked from him. That is why he thought the Brahmin had come seeking some charity.
''Oh, King Bharbarika, I was on myway from Hasthinapur to your place, and throughout my long journey I have heard a lot of news and most of which was about the biggest war that is going to happen between Pandavas and Kauravas. I also heard about your exceptional valour, intelligent warfare tactics, matchless prowess, and immense talents. Also you are praised by every one as a very chartable minded philanthropist. You are one who will give anything asked by those who approached you for alms, I was told . All these made me find my way to your place and meet you,’’
Bharbarika laughed. ’Brahmin maharaj, what you heard is not untrue’’ I shall be pleased to grant you whatever you wish from me.’’
Let me clarify some general matters first from you .
‘’Is it true that there will be a big war between kings and if that is going to happen, are you going to play any role in it??
“It is true. There is going to be a war between two great forces, Pandavas and Kauravas shortly. But I have not decided or interested myself in it. May be someone from both sides will visit me soliciting my participation in their favour when I will make a final decision .”’
‘’Bharbarika, I learnt that Kauvara army is three times bigger and stronger than the Pandava army. How can they defend themselves?
Supposing you join the Pandavas who may seek your help, do you think you will be able to win the war defeating the Kauravas?
Bharbarika laughed again. ‘’I don’t need any forces to join in destroying the opponent. I alone can finish both the sides in one minute time!’’ said the demonic king .’’
"My dear King, you may be strong and powerful. Does that mean that you can under-estimate the strength of the armed forces of the opponent. It may be mistaken if you say so, that you are imagining that you are all powerful. Sorry, I am an innocent Brahmin but am interested to know this from you, a great warrior of many battle experience.’’
‘’Brahmin ji, I am not exaggerating. I am telling you the truth. Listen, I have 3 special arrows, they are enough to destroy everything and everyone from both sides of the war!’’.
Krishna, the old Brahmin laughed. ‘’ How can just 3 arrows destroy the entire armed forces of the great Pandavas and the Kauravas? It appears unbelievable and not quite convincing!’’
‘’Come on Brahmin ji , you seem to be interested in knowing about my prowess and I feel you are doubting my ability. Look, this is the first arrow. If I aim it , it will mark and identify all the people I wish to attack and kill and return back to me. Do you see?’’
Then I need to send this second arrow, which will remove from those already marked, whom I don’t want to kill from the marking/identification made by the first arrow,and return back to me’’
‘’Very interesting King Bharbarika” I have never heard about all these. Then what will happen?’’
‘’All I need to do is to aim my last, the third arrow, to kill those who are marked and identified by the first arrow except those excluded from it, by the second arrow, which means that all others will be killed without fail in no time. The third arrow will finish the job and come back to me. All these will be in less than a minute time . Do you now understand ’’
‘’My dear King, it is marvellous, and you are really great. I absolutely believe in what you say. But can you demonstrate for my curiosity, by asking your arrows to do what I say?’’ .
‘’why not. I am surprised a Brahmin like you is so much interested in testing the ability of my arrows but I wish to satisfy you because you will go everywhere and tell about this.’’
‘’Oh, King Bharbarika, I admire your respecting even an old brahmin’s words with patience. I just want to see whether your arrows can do a small work. Just look at the huge tree before us. Can your arrows pluck all the leaves of the tree, just leave only ten leaves in the tree, bundle them, bring and put the bundle here before us.’’
‘’What a simple task is this. Just see. Bharbarika took the first arrow, uttered the manthra and issued instruction to mark all the leaves in the tree shown by the Brahmin. He discharged the arrow. While Bharbarika was busy in uttering the manthra to release the arrow, Krishna just plucked a single leaf from the tree and put it under his right foot hiding it. The first arrow went to the tree identified the leaves there and instead of going back to Bharbarika, it came near Krishna and circled his right foot to identify the hidden leaf belonging to the tree!!
‘’Krishna, the old Brahmin, asked Bharbarika, ‘’Oh King why this arrow is circling my right foot repeatedly?’’
‘’Brahmin ji, did you take any leaf from the tree and are you keeping it with you in your body?’ Since the arrow is circling your right foot, just lift it and see if there is any arrow underneath’ enquired Bharbarika.
The moment Krishna lifted his right foot, the arrow marked the loose leaf and returned back to Bharbarika.’’
Bharbarika sent the second arrow instructing it to leave the first 10 leaves in the first branch of the tree and re-number all the other leaves of the tree. It did its job and came back to him in no time.
Bharbarika then sent his third arrow, instructing it to pluck and collect all the marked leaves of the tree, without touching the ten leaves ‘’unmarked’’ by the second arrow, and bring the plucked leaves in a bundle and put before the Brahmin.
In lightning speed the third arrow completely denuded the tree and all the leaves except the 10 left over leaves, but picking up even the one leaf which was lying under Krishna’s right foot, bundled them all, brought and put before the Brahmin.!
In no time, the Brahmin found a mountain of leaves neatly bundled lying before him and the tree presented a pathetic picture, with not a single leaf barring the ten leaves in one branch.
Krishna could not control his shock and surprise.
‘’King Bharbarika, I fully appreciate your Mayajal and great skill in handling weapons and war equipment and am fully convinced that you can win the war in one minute time without anyone’s support. Why don’t you help the Pandavas who may need your help, as their forces are qiuite less in number and size from those of the Kauravas. Your 3 arrows will be a great boon to the Pandavas’’
‘’Krishna, I will help that side which is losing the battle by identifying them, marking only the opponents and destroy them. Then the other side will automatically lose strength. I will join the losing side, and attack the opposite side and destroy them. So I will fight for those who lose whoever it may be, Kauravas or Pandavas as I find them losing strength from time to time, changing sides. ''
Krishna, the old Brahmin, immediately realised the danger involved in this process. Bharbarika would first join Pandavas and attack Kauravas. When they lose he will join the Kauravas and attack Pandavas and weaken them. He will thus shift his support and ultimately there will be no one other than Bharbarika left behind as he would have destroyed both sides. Krishna decided that Bharbarika should not be a part of the Mahabharath war.
"Brahmin swamiji, what are you thinking? Did not you appreciate or understand my strategy’’ asked Bharbarika,
‘’Nothing Bharbarika. I was wondering if what some one had told me about you, was an exaggeration. I was told that Bharbarika is someone no one can fight with and win’’ I now understand that it was really true. I therefore wanted to verify your true ability ánd ascertain whether you are truthful and a great philanthropist who will not back out of his commitment, before asking you to grant my wish”’
‘’Old brahmin ji, you are right. I will never go back on my commitment once I commit and you may ask your wish and I assure you that I will stand by it’’
‘’Bharbarika, I want your head, cut it and give me!’’ asked Krishna
Bharbarika laughed and without hesitation, took his third arrow, instructed it to cut his head and put it on the old brahmin’s hands.
Dear children, from the story of Bharbarika, you will learn that in those days even if it was a rakshasa, asura or demon, one did not back out from a promise and honoured the commitment even at the cost of one’s life. Krishna decided rightly to remove Bharbarika from the scene of war but felt he missed another great hero of Pandava clan in him, like Aravaan. These two heroes died even before the war commenced is a sad news