In the epic Mahabharata, the character Krishna often spoke about the concepts of
dharma (righteousness) and adharma (unrighteousness).
He emphasized the importance of following dharma in one’s actions. However, during the Kurukshetra war, where the Pandavas battled against the Kauravas, Krishna’s actions
sometimes appeared contradictory to his teachings.
One such instance was when Krishna employed strategies that seemed deceitful,
like the incidents involving Bhishma, Dronacharya, and others.
However, to understand these actions, we need to delve deeper into the
context of the war and the principles guiding Krishna’s actions.
The Kurukshetra war was not a simple clash between two armies;
it was a battle against colossal evil. The Kauravas, led by individuals like
Duryodhana, Shakuni, and Karna, repeatedly engaged in unjust and deceitful acts.
They tried to poison Bhima, they cheated in the game of dice, and they attempted
to disrobe Draupadi in public, among many other heinous deeds.
In response to such pervasive injustice, Krishna recognized that conventional means might
not suffice to defeat such evil. This realization led him to adopt unconventional methods,
which might seem contradictory to traditional notions of dharma.
Take, for instance, the tragic fate of Abhimanyu, who bravely entered a tricky
formation but was unfairly surrounded and killed. Arjuna vow to
avenge Abhimanyu’s death by sunset by killing of Jayadrada or
else he would end his own life. However, the Kauravas shielded
Jayadrada so effectively that Arjuna couldn’t fulfill his vow.
In a moment ofapparent deception, Krishna created an illusion of sunset,
prompting the Kauravas to lower their guard, allowing Arjuna to slay Jayadrada.
Similarly, in the duel between Arjuna and Karna, when Karna was about to unleash a deadly weapon upon Arjuna, Krishna intervened by causing Arjuna’s chariot to sink slightly,
deflecting the fatal blow. These actions might seem deceitful, but they were driven by
Krishna’s deep understanding of the greater purpose – establishing dharma and
defeating the forces of adharma.
This brings us to the concept of “Ahimsa Paramo Dharma,”
which means non-violence is the ultimate righteousness.
However, it is also essential to recognize that sometimes,
violence becomes necessary in the service of dharma.
This doesn’t mean violence for the sake of personal gain or vendetta
but rather as a means to uphold righteousness and protect the innocent.
Krishna’s actions during the Kurukshetra war exemplify this principle.
Though some of his actions may appear contradictory to traditional dharma,
they were driven by a higher purpose – to restore justice and righteousness in the world.
In essence, Krishna’s teachings remind us that while non-violence is supreme,
there are occasions where righteous violence becomes imperative to safeguard
dharma and uphold justice.
How do you perceive Krishna’s intervention in
the epic Mahabharat war?
Do share in the comments below.
