Every morning Barbareek would thunder down the countryside astride his blue horse. It was on one such occasion that Krishna accosted him disguised as a brahmin and asked him who he was.
"I am the son of Ghatotkachch and Maurvi and the grandson of Bhim and Hidimbaa and am the most powerful warrior in the world," said Barbareek.
"Your words reek of arrogance," reprimanded the brahmin. "Tell me how you plan to defeat older and more experienced warriors with only three arrows in your quiver."
"With the first arrow I can mark everything I want to destroy. Then when I fire the third arrow everything that is marked will be destroyed. Alternatively with the second arrow I can mark everything that I want saved and then when I release the third arrow everything that is not marked will be destroyed."
The brahmin proposed a test. He asked Barbareek to destroy all the leaves of the peepul tree below which they were standing. If Barbareek succeeded then the brahmin would give him even greater powers, but if Barbareek failed then he would have to give to the brahmin whatever the brahmin asked for.
Barbareek agreed. With the first arrow he marked all the leaves on the tree and with the third he destroyed them. Then the brahmin lifted one leg to reveal one leaf hidden below his foot. "You have destroyed all the leaves on the tree but not all the leaves of the tree because there is no doubt that this leaf is of the tree. You have failed the test."
Saying this Krishna assumed his true form. Barbareek was both astonished and happy to see his mentor. But Krishna had an unpleasant task to perform. He explained to Barbareek what would happen if Barbareek decided to participate in the battle. He explained how both sides would be annihilated. The wisdom of Krishna's words dawned on Barbareek. But the brave youth shook his head and said, "Come what may, I will fight. Only over my dead body can anyone prevent me from doing so."
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