Barbarik Khatu Shyam Baba story.
The devastating war of Mahabharata lasted for 18 days, resulting in the victory of the Pandavas. After performing the last rites of their Kaurava brothers, the Pandavas bid farewell, leaving for Nirvana after crowning their grandson Parikshit as the king. Krishna also renounced his physical form and departed for his abode. In the aftermath, righteousness flourished in Hastinapura, marking the beginning of a new era.
However, even after this, when Sage Jamini, a disciple of Vyasa, couldn't find an answer to a question related to Mahabharata, he sought the sage Shamyak for the solution. Jamini's question was about Barbarik, who, besides being witnessed by the Pandavas, was considered by Krishna to be worshipped like a god in Kaliyuga. The question was, who else, apart from the Pandavas, bore witness to this act, as Krishna was no longer present, and the Pandavas had attained Nirvana. To unravel this mystery, Jamini approached Rishi Shamyak.
Shamyak informed Jamini that Barbarik had been blessed by Krishna to be worshipped like a god in Kaliyuga. The only witness to this event was someone named 'Dharmapakshi,' who is still alive. Intrigued, Jamini inquired about Dharmapakshi's identity. Shamyak explained that during the Mahabharata war, one of Arjuna's arrows had struck a bird, causing its stomach to burst. The bird fell to the battlefield. However, another arrow from Arjuna had cut the bell around an elephant's neck, which then landed on top of the bird, protecting its eggs. The bird had a curse that it would die only when the bell was removed. After the war, when the bell was finally removed, there were chicks underneath. These birds had heard everything about Mahabharata and Krishna, hence Dharmapakshi could reveal details about why and how Krishna blessed Barbarik in Kaliyuga.
Upon receiving permission from Shamyak, Jamini reached a mountain where a gigantic Dharmapakshi resided. Dharmapakshi agreed to share the story but insisted on hearing Barbarik's tale first, as he wanted to know events he was unaware of. Shamyak then narrated Barbarik's story.
It was a time when the Pandavas were in exile, and during this period, after the marriage of Bhima's son Ghatotkacha, Barbarik was born. When the Pandavas heard about it, they went to witness the child's naming ceremony. Seeing the strong child, they felt reassured that if a war occurred, he would fight for their side. The narrative focuses on Barbarik's childhood, his bravery, and the teachings of his mother.
Simultaneously, the Pandavas, who were nearby in exile, would have stories of Yudhishthira and the Yaksha, tales of brotherly love, and encounters with Duryodhana's warriors or spies. The narrative also involves Durvasa visiting as a guest.
Barbarik, growing up, encounters a Yakshi, leading to a one-sided love affair. Despite Yakshi's affection, Barbarik's destiny compels him to become a warrior and a mystic as he knows a war is destined in the future. When Barbarik goes for penance, his mother instructs him to fight only with the weaker side.
Barbarik seeks a boon from Lord Shiva, and in the meantime, Krishna visits the Pandavas with ominous news. The war is imminent, and Barbarik, who is performing penance, receives three powerful arrows from Shiva. These arrows are potent enough to end the entire war. However, Barbarik is bound by his mother's vow to fight for the weaker side. Knowing the Kurukshetra War will lead to Kaurava defeat, Krishna cunningly arranges for Barbarik to exhaust his arrows.
As the war begins, a bird arrives at the battlefield, beneath which Barbarik's eggs are kept safe. With the defeat of the Kauravas, the bird and its chicks emerge from underneath the bell, signifying the end of the war. Dharmapakshi concludes the tale by telling Jamini and Shamyak that Krishna, after the war, took the form of a Brahmin and sought Barbarik's head, thus giving him the name Shyam and bestowing the boon of being worshipped in Kaliyuga.
The narrative shifts to a later time, where miracles are occurring in the land of a poor man. Upon excavation, Barbarik's head is found, leading to people starting to worship him."
