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I am wondering why Krishna took life of Barbarika as guru-dakshina from Barbarika as he was assumed to be the most strong contender in the Mahabharata about whom everyone was worried with his undefeated power of 3 arrows that he was having. Barbarika was called "Teen Baandhari"

The reason mentioned is that Barbarika gave guru-dakshina to his guru that Barbarika will always fight from the weaker side and Krishna was worried that there would be a time when his side(Pandavas) will be strong and Kauravas will be weak then Barbarika will fight against them.

But, as Barbarika was son of Ghatothkach and the grandson of Bheem, he was willing to fight with Pandavas and he was having power to kill all enemies within minutes with the power of 3 arrows that he was having.

Aby
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Lalit Poptani
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1 Answers1

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Barbarika's joining Pandavas army and having 3 arrows would have itself made the Kaurava's army weak, so Barbarika could have then joined Kauravas. Now, if Barbarika joins the Kauravas army then the Pandavas army would have been weak. So, it would have been confusing for Barbarika in deciding what to do, which side to join. And in the process of joining both armies one by one he would have killed everyone and he himself would've been the lone survivor.

And even if we consider him joining the Pandavas army for a minute, then also here could be some other things that needed to be considered:

  1. Bhishma: Bhishma had got the boon of Ichcha-Mrityu so he couldn't be killed by even Barbarika, and if he would have survived and rest others are dead then Barbarika had to join him as then Kauravas side would have been weak.

  2. Jaidrath: If he had killed Jaidrath than Barbarika's head would have also busted thus killing Barbarika.

  3. Karna: Karna couldn't have been killed until he had his Kavach and Kundal.

So, either full Kauravas army wouldn't have been killed then and ultimately Barbarika had to join Kauravas and end all Pandavas along with their army, which was possible as Pandavas do not had any such boon like Bhishma or Karna to protect them OR Barbarika himself would have been killed by killing Jaidrath.

Also, there were some pledges taken by Pandavas brothers like Bheema for killing Dushasana, Pledge by Draupadi for not tying her hair until she washes it with blood of Dushasana, Dhristadyumna being born with the purpose of killing Drona, Amba's pledge that she will the reason for Bhishma's death, etc. There were several boons, curses and pledges that needs to be settled through this war. So, ending the war through Barbarika was not destined.

Also, another reason for cutting Barbarika's head was a story about the previous birth of Barbarika in which he was cursed that he will be killed by Lord Vishnu's incarnation before Lord eliminates the evil forces on earth. This is described on this Wiki page as follows:

Barbarika was a Yaksha in his previous birth. Once Lord Brahma and several other Devas came to Vaikunta and complained to Lord Vishnu that the Adharma on Earth was increasing; it was not possible for them to bear the tortures causes by the wicked people. Hence they came to seek the help of Lord Vishnu to check them. Lord Vishnu told the Devas that he will soon be incarnated on Earth as a human being and destroy all the evil forces. Then, a Yaksha told the Devas that he alone is enough to kill all evil elements on the Earth, and it was not necessary for Lord Vishnu to descend to Earth. This hurt Lord Brahma very much. Lord Brahma cursed this Yaksha that whenever the time comes to eliminate all the evil forces on Earth, then Lord Vishnu will first kill him. Later, the Yaksha takes birth as Barbarika and Lord Krishna seeks his head in charity as a result of this curse.

Aby
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    But, barbarika could have just killed Duryodhana and the war would have ended? isn't it? – Lalit Poptani Sep 28 '15 at 10:40
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    @Poptani No, When Duryodhana was dying, he made Ashwathama his commander and he fought even after Duryodhana's death. So taking this into account, at the starting of the war, Bhishma was his commander, who woud have survived because of Ichchamrityu and then he would have fought with Pandavas and then Barbarika would have to join him. – Aby Sep 28 '15 at 16:57
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    Another thing was that there were rules at that time for battles such that a maharathi will fight with maharathi, an atirathi with atirathi, etc. So maybe Barbarika was not in comparison with Duryodhana in this category. – Aby Sep 28 '15 at 17:00
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    but as you know Barbarika had an arrow that would target individual person and that arrow will pass everyone coming in between the target and Barbarika's arrow, as it did for Krishna's leg to target the leaf of pepal tree. – Lalit Poptani Sep 29 '15 at 05:56
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    @LalitPoptani Agreed Arrow can pass through whoever comes in between but had it killed Lord Krishna? No. So, same way it could have been through Bhishma but couldn't have killed him because of Bhishma's Ichchamrityu boon & also couldn't have killed Karna because of his Kavach & Kundals. There were others also who would have been alive. Killing Duryodhana can seem to be an end of the battle but might actually be not. I told you already about Ashwathama continuing the battle along with Kripacharya & others raiding Pandavas camp even after the battle. Same could be the result via Bhishma & Karna – Aby Sep 29 '15 at 06:39
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    Just imagine, if Pandavas were there sleeping in the camps instead of their sons then Pandavas would have been killed and Ashwathama would have won the battle for Duryodhana even after Duryodhana's death. – Aby Sep 29 '15 at 06:43
  • If Duryodhana would have been killed by Barbarika then war would have been over, no one can do anything neither Bhisma nor Aswathama nor Karna. – Lalit Poptani Sep 29 '15 at 08:05
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    Its not necessary. It depends on who is taking charge of the army after the leader dies. If the next in-charge wants to continue, he can. Ashwathama and Kripacharya did the same. If Bhishma/Karna would have survived, then may be they could have also continued the battle. – Aby Sep 29 '15 at 08:38
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    No, it was decided before the war that if Duryodhana or Yudhisthira dies or is captured the war would end, thats why Dhronacharya decided to capture Yudhisthira using Chakravyuh. – Lalit Poptani Sep 29 '15 at 08:39
  • Let us continue this discussion in chat. – Aby Sep 29 '15 at 08:40