The ‘Kurukshetra War’ is described in the Indian epic ‘Mahabharata’ as a conflict, fought between two groups of cousins of an Indian Kingdom called Kauravas and Pandavas for the throne of Hastinapur.
Lord Krishna decided not to fight in the war and not to pick up his weapons. As a last attempt to bring peace in war Krishna asked Duryodhana to return Indraprastha to the Pandavas but Duryodhana said he would not give land to the Pandavas. Duryodhana publicly ordered his soldiers, even after the warnings from all the elders, to arrest Krishna. Krishna laughed and displayed his divine form, radiating intense light.
Krishna had a large force called the Narayani Sena and was himself a great warrior. Once Duryodhana and Arjuna thus both went to Krishna at Dwarka to ask for his help. Duryodhana arrived first and found Krishna asleep. When Krishna woke up, he saw Arjuna first and gave him the first right to make his request. Krishna told Arjuna and Duryodhana that he would give the Narayani Sena, to one side and himself as a non-combatant to the other. Arjuna on behalf of the Pandavas chose Krishna. Later Arjuna requested Krishna to be his charioteer and he agreed wholeheartedly.
When the war was declared and the two armies were facing each other, Arjuna was in a dilemma and he felt weak and sickened at the prospect of killing his entire family. Arjuna turned to Krishna for divine advice and teachings. Krishna advised him of his duty. This conversation forms the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most respected religious and philosophical texts in the Hindu religion. Krishna reminded him that this was a war between righteousness and unrighteousness and it was Arjuna’s duty to support the cause of sin.
In lieu of conclusion, it can be said that Lord Krishna played a vital role in the Kurukshetra war. His religious philosophy left a big impact on the thoughts and beliefs of Pandavas and Kauravas. From his initial days in Hastinapur to the end of this historical war he remained as a key political figure in a timeless harmony.
