Yudhisthira: Encyclopedia II - Yudhisthira - The War at Kurukshetra

Yudhisthira - The War at Kurukshetra

Yudhisthira makes numerous efforts of diplomatic means to retrieve his kingdom peacefully, but Duryodhana refuses to concede. Dhritarashtra even appeals to Yudhisthira to not start a war that would kill his own relatives, an idea that appalls Yudhisthira. But Krishna reiterates that Yudhisthira's claim was righteous, and the deeds of Duryodhana were evil. If all peace efforts failed, war would be the only, and most righteous course.

Yudhisthira heavily relies on the advice and support of Lord Krishna, whom he recognizes as the Avatara of Vishnu, the Supreme Godhead, Brahman. There are many passages in the Mahabharata in which his will to fight a bloody war for the sake of a kingdom falters, but Krishna justifies the war as moral and as the unavoidable duty of all moral warriors.

Yudhisthira - Drona's death

In the war, Yudhisthira is targeted by Kuru commander Drona to be captured, but the latter fails to accomplish this. The Kuru commander and preceptor is however killing hundreds of thousands of Pandava warriors and thus advancing Duryodhana's cause.

Krishna asks Yudhisthira to proclaim that Drona's son Ashwathama has died, so that the invincible and destructive Kuru commander would give up his arms and thus could be killed. Bhima proceeds to kill an elephant named Ashwathama, and loudly proclaims that Ashwathama is dead.

Drona knows that only Yudhisthira, with his firm adherence to the truth, could tell him for sure if his son had died. When Drona approaches Yudhisthira to seek to confirm this, Yudhisthira tells him that Ashwathama is dead..., then in a low tone, ..the elephant.

Yudhisthira cannot make himself tell an entire lie, despite the fact that if Drona continued to fight, the Pandavas and the cause of dharma itself would lose. When he speaks his half-lie, Yudhisthira's feet and chariot descend to the ground momentarily. Drona is disheartened, and lays down his weapons. He is then killed by Dhristadyumna.

Yudhisthira himself kills Shalya, the king of Madras and the last Kuru commander.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "The War at Kurukshetra", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki