Astha SangrahASTHA SANGRAHhttps://asthasangrah.comBarbarik Shish Daan Katha
The Barbarik Shish Daan Katha tells how Barbarik, grandson of Bhima and son of Ghatotkacha, won the boon of three infallible arrows from Lord Shiv, promised his mother he would always fight for the losing side, and set out for the Mahabharata's battlefield, only to recognize Lord Krishna disguised as a Brahmin along the way, and offer up his own head without hesitation.
Chapter 1 · Birth, the Boon, and the Vow Given to His Mother
Barbarik was the son of Bhimasena's son Ghatotkacha and the Naga princess Ahilavati. Extraordinarily mighty and valiant from childhood, he undertook fierce penance to Lord Shiv at a young age and won the boon of three infallible arrows, while Agni, the fire god, gave him a divine bow besides. These three arrows were such that a single one could destroy an entire enemy army and return by itself to his quiver, which is why Barbarik was considered capable of conquering all three worlds.
Read the Khatu Shyam Chalisa →When the Mahabharata war was announced, Barbarik too grew eager to witness it and take part. Before leaving, he sought his mother Ahilavati's permission. She asked only one promise of him, that on the battlefield, he would always fight for whichever side appeared weaker and was losing. Barbarik touched the dust of his mother's feet to his forehead and gladly accepted this vow, then set out for Kurukshetra on his blue horse, carrying his three arrows and his bow.
Chapter 2 · Krishna's Test, and the Gift of the Head
Along the way, the all-knowing Lord Krishna, disguised as a Brahmin, met Barbarik and asked what he could possibly achieve in so vast a war with just three arrows. Barbarik answered that these three arrows were capable of destroying entire armies. On hearing this, Krishna in his Brahmin form decided to test him, and pointing to a peepal tree standing nearby, challenged him to pierce every single leaf of that tree with just one arrow, if his arrow truly held such power.
Remembering God, Barbarik released a single arrow, and it pierced every leaf of the peepal tree. But the Brahmin, Krishna in disguise, had secretly plucked one leaf and hidden it under his own foot. The arrow, having pierced every other leaf, began circling around the Brahmin's foot. Barbarik understood at once that this was no ordinary man in a Brahmin's guise, but the Lord himself, and he humbly asked the Brahmin to move his foot, since his arrow had been commanded only to pierce leaves.
Revealing his true form, Lord Krishna told Barbarik that his power was such that if he entered the war, fighting alternately for each side as his vow to his mother demanded, he alone would bring the entire Mahabharata war to an end in an instant, defeating the very purpose of this war of righteousness. Saying this, Krishna asked Barbarik to give him his head in charity. Without the slightest hesitation or delay, Barbarik severed his own head and offered it at the Lord's feet, which is why he came to be known as 'the giver of his own head.' Pleased by this supreme sacrifice, Lord Krishna blessed him to remain alive and aware until the war's end, the detailed story of this blessing, and of the further boon that followed, is told on its own separate page on this site.
Read the Shyam Baba Vardan Katha →How to Read Barbarik Shish Daan Katha
On Ekadashi or a Tuesday, bathe in the morning, meditate on Baba Shyam, light a lamp, and recite the Khatu Shyam Chalisa and Aarti. Hearing this story is considered especially auspicious during the Falgun fair.
About Barbarik Shish Daan Katha
This story is told across two chapters. The first tells of Barbarik's birth, the boon of three arrows from Shiv, and the vow given to his mother. The second describes Krishna's peepal-leaf test and the gifting of the head.
This story is tied to Khatu Shyam, that is, Barbarik. This page presents both chapters' full text in plain Hindi, with adjustable text size and print support.
About A folk tradition tied to the Mahabharata
The Barbarik Shish Daan Katha has no single authoritative printed 'katha text', it is a medieval oral tradition tied to the Mahabharata, and the wording here has been composed independently. Note: the story of the 'Shyam' boon Barbarik received from Krishna after gifting his head, and of watching the war from a hilltop, as well as the story of that same head's manifestation at Khatu village centuries later, are both told on their own separate pages on this site, so only the story up to the head's gifting is told here, and the events that followed are not repeated.
Frequently asked questions
Who were Barbarik's parents?
Barbarik was the son of Bhimasena's son Ghatotkacha and the Naga princess Ahilavati, which is why he is called Bhima's grandson.
Who gave Barbarik the boon of three arrows?
Pleased by his fierce penance, Lord Shiv granted him three infallible arrows, and Agni, the fire god, gave him a divine bow.
What vow did Barbarik give his mother?
He vowed that on the battlefield, he would always fight for whichever side appeared weaker and was losing.
Why did Krishna ask Barbarik for his head in charity?
Krishna knew that, true to his vow, Barbarik would fight alternately for both sides and single-handedly end the war in an instant, defeating the purpose of this war of righteousness, so he asked him for his head in charity instead.