Barbarika's Real Age
बर्बरीक की असली उम्र
They say Bhima's grandson Barbarika could win the Mahabharata war alone. But how old was he then?
- From
- Skanda Purana
- Length
- 1:33
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The katha, line by line
They say Bhima's grandson Barbarika could win the Mahabharata war alone. But how old was he then?
कहते हैं, भीम के पोते बर्बरीक अकेले महाभारत जीत सकते थे। पर तब उनकी उम्र क्या थी?
Barbarika's Real Age.
बर्बरीक की असली उम्र।
The Pandavas were in Indraprastha when, at Krishna's word, Bhima's son Ghatotkacha married.
पांडव इंद्रप्रस्थ में थे, जब कृष्ण के कहने पर भीम के बेटे घटोत्कच की शादी हुई।
Their son became a young man the moment he was born. From his curly hair, he got the name Barbarika.
उनके बेटे पैदा होते ही जवान हो गए। घुंघराले बालों से नाम पड़ा, बर्बरीक।
For three years he worshipped the goddesses, and got boundless power.
तीन साल उन्होंने देवियों की तपस्या की, और अपार शक्ति पाई।
Then the Pandavas, who had lost at dice, came there on pilgrimage. Barbarika did not know them.
फिर जुए में हारे पांडव तीर्थ करते वहाँ आए। बर्बरीक उन्हें पहचानते नहीं थे।
Bhima washed his feet in the goddess's pool, so Barbarika fought him.
भीम ने देवी के कुंड में पैर धोए, तो बर्बरीक उनसे भिड़ गए।
He lifted Bhima and carried him toward the sea. Then Shiva said: "Let go. He is your grandfather."
वो भीम को उठाकर समुद्र की ओर ले चले। तब शिव बोले, छोड़, ये तेरे दादा हैं।
In shame, he went to throw himself into the sea, but the goddesses stopped him.
शर्म से वो ख़ुद समुद्र में कूदने चले, पर देवियों ने उन्हें रोक लिया।
Then the thirteen years of exile ended, and the war came.
फिर तेरह साल का वनवास पूरा हुआ, और युद्ध आया।
Barbarika said: "In one muhurta, forty-eight minutes, I alone will kill them all."
बर्बरीक बोले, एक मुहूर्त, यानी अड़तालीस मिनट में, मैं अकेला सबको मार दूँगा।
As proof, he shot one arrow filled with ash. It fell on almost every warrior, at the spot of his death.
सबूत में उन्होंने भस्म भरा एक बाण चलाया, जो लगभग हर योद्धा की मौत की जगह पर जा गिरा।
That very moment, Krishna cut off his head with his discus.
उसी पल कृष्ण ने चक्र से उनका सिर काट दिया।
So, his age? The text does not write it. But three years of penance, then meeting Bhima, then the war: at least four years.
तो उम्र? ग्रंथ नहीं लिखता। पर तीन साल तपस्या, फिर भीम से मिलना, फिर युद्ध, यानी कम से कम चार साल।
Maybe he was a child, whose body was young from birth.
शायद वो एक बच्चे थे, जिनका शरीर जन्म से जवान था।
Sources
- Mahabharata, Critical Edition, and Ganguli translationBarbarika does not appear in either text.
- Skanda Purana, Kaumarika Khanda 1.2.59.7, 1.2.59.34-35, 1.2.60.54-55Pandavas in Indraprastha; Krishna proposes Mura's daughter; Ghatotkacha's wedding.
- Skanda Purana, Kaumarika Khanda 1.2.60.63, 1.2.60.67He grows to youth the moment he is born; named for his curly hair.
- Skanda Purana, Kaumarika Khanda 1.2.61.29, 1.2.61.37-39Three years of worship; the goddesses grant him power.
- Skanda Purana, Kaumarika Khanda 1.2.64.2, 1.2.64.5The Pandavas, defeated at dice, come on pilgrimage; he does not know them.
- Skanda Purana, Kaumarika Khanda 1.2.64.10-40, 1.2.64.43, 1.2.64.58-68The fight with Bhima; Rudra: he is your grandfather; the goddesses stop his drowning.
- Skanda Purana, Kaumarika Khanda 1.2.66.1The war comes after the thirteenth year.
- Skanda Purana, Kaumarika Khanda 1.2.66.23His claim: in one muhurta (48 minutes) he will kill them all.
- Skanda Purana, Kaumarika Khanda 1.2.66.38-43One arrow with ash marks each warrior's death spot, except the Pandavas, Kripa, Ashvatthama.
- Skanda Purana, Kaumarika Khanda 1.2.66.48Krishna cuts off his head with a sharp discus.
- Skanda Purana, Kaumarika Khanda 1.2.60.63, 1.2.61.38, 1.2.64.2, 1.2.66.1His age is an inference from these verses; the text never states it.