Who Won the War?

Warriors across the land began arriving and setting up camp for the Kurukshetra war. One young warrior marched with just a bow and three arrows in his quiver. A brahmin met him and asked who he was.

“I’m Barbarik, the grandson of Bhima and son of Ghatotkacha, and I’m going to fight in the Kurukshetra war.”

“With just these 3 arrows?”

“Sir, these are divine arrows. With the first arrow, I will mark out the target. With the second one, I will mark what is to be spared. The third arrow will destroy whatever has been marked by the first arrow.”

“Really? Let’s see if you can hit every leaf of this peepal tree.”

The brahmin secretly pressed a leaf under his foot.

Barbarik took aim and released an arrow. It pierced every single leaf of the tree and began hovering over the brahmin’s foot.

“You have hidden a leaf beneath your foot, haven't you? The arrow is searching for it. Please move your foot, or it may pierce you along with the leaf.”

The amazed brahmin now asked Barbarik:

“So, you will fight for the Pandavas and ensure their victory, right?”

“Actually, I promised my mother that I would always fight for the weaker side. Right now, the Pandava army is smaller, so I will fight on their side. But when the Kaurava army becomes weaker, then I will switch sides and fight for them!”

“Have you considered what might happen if you do that?”

Barbarik had not.

The brahmin explained, “Your intention is to protect the weaker side, but have you considered the consequences of your promise? If you keep changing sides, your power will destroy both armies. This war is a dharmayuddha, and it is dharma that must triumph. But your actions may prevent that.”

Barbarik fell silent. Then he looked at the brahmin with greater respect.

“Who are you, and why are you so concerned about this.”

Krishna now stood in front of Barbarik.

“Will you give me whatever I ask for, Barbarik?”

Barbarik bowed and agreed.

“Give me your head.”

Barbarik understood why Krishna was making this extraordinary request.

“If You deem it necessary, I’ll give You my head. But grant me a boon. I want to witness the entire war.”

Barbarik sacrificed his head, and Krishna placed it on a hill overlooking the battlefield. The head watched the entire war.

The 18-day war was over. The Pandavas had won. They sat talking about their great exploits. Krishna watched with a gentle smile. Soon, each of the Pandavas was claiming that it was his actions that turned the tide of the battle.

“Well, Barbarik witnessed the entire war, perhaps we should ask him,” suggested Krishna.

So they went to Barbarik, and asked:

“Tell us, who was the greatest warrior? Who truly won this war?”

Barbarik replied:

“I couldn’t see any single warrior winning. The only thing I saw constantly was Krishna’s Sudarshana Chakra whirling across the battlefield, cutting down everyone!”

                                         
Pleased with Barbarik's devotion and sacrifice, Krishna blessed him. He granted that Barbarik would be worshipped in the Kali Yuga by His own name, becoming a refuge for those who felt defeated or helpless.

Thus, Barbarik came to be revered as Khatu Shyam, often addressed as Haare Ka Sahara — the refuge of the defeated. Thousands of devotees flock everyday to the Khatu Shyam Ji temple at Sikar, in Rajasthan.

What we get to learn from this story is that firstly, all that happens is by the sankalpa, the will of the Supreme Lord. Our duty is to act sincerely as instruments in His hands, allowing Him to work through us, without feeling proud of our achievements.

Equally important, we learn that possessing power is not enough. We also need wisdom, and viveka, the power of discrimination to use the power responsibly. Compassion for the weaker side is good, but it must never turn into support for adharma.

Let us pray that like Barbarik, we should be guided by Krishna to recognize when to use our strength, when to exercise restraint and how to act in service of the larger purpose of dharma.