Babarik and Abhimanyu in Mahabharata : A Character Sketch
Barbarik and Abhimanyu: The Strongest and the Bravest Warriors of Mahabharata
Our lives are filled with interesting characters. They have virtues. They have vices. They can sometimes be inspirational, while at the same time ironical.
Beyond viewing them through the narrow lenses of heroes and villains, good or evil, characters in themselves are unique and come in different shades.
Unlike our popular imagination characters don’t perfectly fit in the “good” or “bad” category. Sometimes they can be idealistic, while at different scenarios, they can turn selfish and pragmatic.
Each character is a rainbow in themselves. There is the great, the good, the bad and the ugly all within the same heart and mind.
Mahabharata, is one such epic that is full of interesting characters. If we look religion beyond way of life and identity and more towards wellbeing and wisdom, even characters can turn lively and fascinating!
Apart from being the fountainhead of Bhagwat Geeta, Mahabharata is an epic that celebrates roles. The role of a King, the role of a teacher, the role of a friend, the role of a son, the role of an advisor, and much more.
As a kid, I enjoyed B.R. Chopra’s Mahabharata series. Fortunately, I got to revisit them again, and this is when I thought of doing some character sketches.
As a disclaimer, these character sketches are done out of my own personal passion viewed through my lenses. I, do not hereby claim any sort of legitimacy from scriptural point of view. The character sketch is largely based on as portrayed in the series.
Barbarik and Abhimanyu are probably the strongest and the bravest warriors of the Mahabharata. The series depicts them in different episodes, through which they convey important messages to the audience.
A. Barbarik
Barbarik beyond being the most powerful warrior of Mahabharata, who could finish the war with 3 arrows was someone who was an ardent seeker of knowledge and wisdom.
There are two interesting and inspiring episodes in the series related with Barbarik.
1. The Idea of Worship Through Encounter with Bhīma
The series depicts an interesting incident where Bhīma is trying to wash his feet in the river, to which Barbarik objects stating that he is going to offer the water from the save river to Goddess Kamakyadevi.
Bhīma replies: “Water or Jaal is something that cleanses everything from feet to sins, and washing his feet would not impurity the river.”
Bhīma, here, imparts an important value about devotion to his grandson Barbarik, who had recently attained immense power.
He states that “Worship is not only about flowers, lamp, and water, but more about devotion.”
Initially, Barbarik does not accept Bhīma’s rationale and both of them get in a fight. But, later Barbarik accepts and articulates two important concepts:
· Worship is about devotion and not about being absolutely rigorous or un-pragmatic.
· Power brings pride but requires patience and tolerance.
2. Revelation of Who Made the Pandavas Win
Once the Kurshettra battle is over, the Pandavas get in debate among themselves on who the fiercest warrior was and who played the greatest role in their victory.
Upon looking at their situation, sage Vyasa suggests that Barbarik whose head was viewing the whole battle would be the unbiased and appropriate candidate to answer the question.
When Barbarik is asked the question “Who played the biggest role in Pandavas’ victory?”, he happily answers-
“All I could see in the battlefield was Shree Krishna’s Sudharsan Chakra eliminating every sinner and Mata Kali spreading her tongue engulfing every Paapi.”
Thus, in a gentle and subtle manner, Barbarik is the character in the series who reminds the Pandavas and audience that it was Shree Krishna who lead them to victory, and it was Dharma or righteousness, who was victorious.
B. Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna was a proficient warrior who attained martyrdom in the battlefield of Kurukshettra trying to break through the “Chakravyu” of the Kaurava army.
He was indeed the bravest warrior, who despite knowing that all the “Maharathis” like Bhisma, Dhronacharya, Karna, Duryodhana choose to stand, fight and die in the battlefield protecting the Pandavas and their army.
The series portrays Abhimanyu as a valiant warrior who creates havoc in the Kaurava army.
There are two harsh, but harsh truths the series conveys with respect to Abhimanyu
1. World might not be fair at all times
Abhimanyu gets attacked by 6 warriors at the same time. Not normal warriors but “Maharathis” well versed in weapons and ethics. These were the same “Maharathis”, who had accepted the rules of war, according to which, Abhimanyu should have been attacked by one warrior at a time.
However, unfortunately the rules were broken in favor of victory, and Abhimanyu is martyred.
Through the character of Abhimanyu, the series tries to convey the point that the world might not be fair at all times. While it is too absolute to state that the world is bitter and is full of only people with interests, it is also important to keep in mind how things can turn unimaginable and unfair when stakes are terribly high.
The world is a nice place full of nice people, but not fair at all times.
2. Exit Strategy is Equally Important as the Entry One
Abhimanyu was confident that he could break the “Chakrabhyu” or the labyrinth. He was undoubtedly a gifted and ferocious warrior, however, he failed to realize in time that he needed an exit strategy.
While provided that Jayadrata had not blocked the other Pandavas, things could have turned the other way, but Abhimanyu’s character in a symbolic way reminds us: “Exit strategy is as equally important as the entry one.”
Entering with confidence is wonderful, but to exit unharmed is also an art because “sometimes life happens when you are planning for something else.”
Be it labyrinth, stocks or even relationships, “a graceful exit” is as integral as a “Shanndaar entry.”