Veer Barbarik. Letter V of the # a to z challenge.

 Many a tale we have gone through, you and I and yet

A stranger tale does not exist than this one here of Veer* Barbarik

Sri Krishna asked all present, on the eve of the battle at

Kurukshetra, how many days each would take to finish

The war, Each had a number ranging twenty to twenty-eight.

Further on, in guise he stopped a young lad on horseback,

All set for war and put before him the same query, the one

He had already asked all the ancients and the greats.

Barbarik the rider, replied, skipping not a beat- 'one whole minute.'

The dusky Lord then proceeded to prod and reveal, through

Question and answer, getting Barbarik to explain thus-

'Of the three arrows that are my blessing, dear man...

The first will mark out the innocents, bystanders and non-aligned,

The second- friends, while the third will raze to the ground all unmarked- the foes.

Also I have promised my mother that I will fight on the losing side

At all times.' At which point Sri Krishna intervened to show him what

Barbarik hadn't thought of, the war could never be won for he would

Stay moving from one losing side to the other. This oscillation

Coupled with the three- arrow boon would result in a

Total annihilation leaving only him standing alive and alone.

This scene when described to the grandson of mighty Bhima-

Barbarik, the son of Ghatotkacha and Maurvi began to see the goryness

He was about to unleash in his naivete.

Krishna now told Barbarik, he wanted something from him

And was promised anything his heart fancied, upon which the Lord

Still in disguise asked for the head of the, now shocked Barbarik

Understanding dawned on the brave young man that all was not

As it seemed and he begged of the stranger to disclose identity.

Seeing who it was in reality, he fell at the blue-hued feet.

The Vishwarupa* was shown and thus graced, the lion-hearted Barbarik

Agreed to lose his head, with a single plea that he be allowed to see

The whole war and this fulfilled with his head sitting atop

The Khatu hill. Known as Belarsen and Khatu-Shyam

Worshipped even now is Veer Barbarik.

*Universal form. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishvarupa

*Brave

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khatushyam

I am writing poetry based on Indian mythology/history for the April 2016 A to Z challenge. Please read, comment and share freely and do come back :)