“Where There is Kṛṣṇa, There is Dharma”

Kṛṣṇa’s Role in Violating the Laws of War in the Mahābhārata

Abstract

This article examines Kṛṣṇa's seemingly paradoxical role in the Mahabharata war. While the epic often states "where there is Kṛṣṇa, there is dharma," the victorious Pāṇḍavas, guided by Kṛṣṇa, frequently violate the explicitly stated laws of righteous warfare (dharmayuddha) concerning conduct in battle (jus in bello). The author argues that Kṛṣṇa prioritizes the just cause of the war (jus ad bellum) – the Pāṇḍavas' claim to dharma – over adherence to the rules of engagement. Through key instances like the deaths of Bhīṣma, Bhūriśravas, Droṇa, Karṇa, and Duryodhana, the article demonstrates how Kṛṣṇa strategizes and even pressures the Pāṇḍavas to employ adharmic tactics, justifying these violations by the pre-war adharma of the Kauravas and the necessity of victory for the side of dharma (represented by his presence). Ultimately, the article suggests that in the Mahabharata, the presence of Kṛṣṇa becomes the defining factor of dharma, allowing for the transgression of conventional war ethics in pursuit of a perceived higher justice.