Kṛṣṇa the Politician, Kṛṣṇa the SuPreme Being

Killing JarāSaṃdha and ŚiŚuPāla in the Mahābhārata

Abstract

This article examines Kṛṣṇa’s multifaceted role in the Mahābhārata, focusing on his political and divine interventions before, during, and after the Kurukṣetra war. It highlights Kṛṣṇa’s strategic actions—such as eliminating key adversaries like Jarāsaṃdha and Śiśupāla—which secure the Pāṇḍavas’ political dominance and establish his own religious supremacy. The study explores how Kṛṣṇa’s pre-war maneuvers (e.g., facilitating Arjuna’s marriage to Subhadrā, aiding in Indraprastha’s establishment) and post-war contributions (e.g., reviving Parikṣit, ensuring knowledge transfer) shape the epic’s outcome. The analysis reveals Kṛṣṇa’s dual role as both a political strategist and divine agent, emphasizing the interplay between human agency and cosmic design in the Mahābhārata.