04/01/2026
South African Tattvavada Association (SATTVA) Vaishnava Foundation
SATTVA Q&A Digest #1:
04/01/26
Question #1 (given verbatim)
A question 🤔. When Krishna failed to get peace between the cousins...And returned to the Pandavas...Who among the Pandava brothers opted for war?
Answer by Dr Preston Padayachee
(Founder of the South African Tattvavada Association Vaishnava Foundation):
This question highlights scenes of the Mahabharata. I will underline an answer with regard to it's spiritual and philosophical context and significance.
A) The Glory of the Mahabharata:
The Mahabharata stands as the greatest among all scriptures. The name "mahAbhArata" itself is interpreted as "That scripture which has the greatest weight (outweighs all others)."
The Bhagavad Gita and Vishnu Sahasranama are both found within the Mahabharata and have been declared as it's gems, enshrining the complete glory of the entire Mahabharata within them.
mahA = Supreme. A sacred name of Vishnu as the Supreme God and Supersoul of all Beings.
bhArata= heavy with (containing an unsurpassedly great deal of content relating to).
Thus, "Mahabharata" is interpreted as:
1. That sacred scripture which is greatest among all others.
2. That scripture which is chief among true scriptures declaring Vishnu as the Supreme God.
3. That scripture which is heavy with the power and will of Vishnu.
4. That scripture which is relevant practically and definitively with regards to the truth. The most applicable scripture in understanding truth.
5. That sacred scripture which contains the full scope, and even beyond, of all Vedas.
6. That incomparable scripture which is composed by the Supreme God Vishnu himself (Vedavyasa Avatara) and is the greatest among his blessings to mankind's pursuit of pure knowledge and devotion to God for good souls in Kali Yuga.
The Mahabharata beautifully expounds the rich and esoteric Vedic theory that is found in the timeless Upanishads, in the form of practical examples demonstrated through the Avataras (descent on earth) of the Supreme God Vishnu, the deities and the demons.
Shri Madhvacharya reiterates in his Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya (definitive commentary on the Mahabharata):
1. The Mahabharata is the definitive scripture regarding the understanding of all Vedic literature.
2. At the command of Vedavyasa, Brahma had weighed the Mahabharata against all other Vedas and established that the Mahabharata outweighs all other sacred scriptures.
The episodes of the Mahabharata are deep with ethical, philosophical and spiritual dimensions.
B) Points Regarding the Question Asked:
1. Krishna's visit to Hastinapura was the final step among a great many for a peaceful resolution to the problem between the Kauravas and Pandavas. The problem was indeed the insatiable evil of Duryodhana and the Kauravas themselves, and they needed to be destroyed for the benefit of the earth.
2. The individual opinions of the five Pandava brothers, their willingness for war and discussions of Dharma in view of their predicament were put forth before Krishna's visit to Hastinapura. Upon Krishna's return to the Pandavas, the plans for war began with Yudhishthira and the Pandavas fixing their minds on Krishna, the ultimate refuge of all good souls.
3. Krishna did not fail to get peace. Krishna as the protector and deliverer of good souls and the tormentor and destroyer of evil souls is oftenly declared across the Vedas. The Kurukshetra war and destruction of the evil Kauravas was the divine will of Krishna. If Krishna wanted there to be no war, then the Kurukshetra war would never have happened, but this outcome has no bearing on reality. The reality of the world is that good and evil both eternally exist and souls are on their individualized paths to realizing their true innate natures (either good, neutral or bad). Good and evil both exist in eternal conflict with each other. The Pandavas had gone out of their way, more so than anyone else would, to maintain peace. This is very evident in the Mahabharata. Also strikingly evident is the evil, corruption and wickedness of Duryodhana, whose prime goal was not for the greater good, but his own wretched schemes to poison the world and make everyone suffer for the sake of his own sinful nature.
4. It is auspicious to identify this event not as "Krishna failing to bring peace," but Krishna's demonstration that souls are intrinsically different from each other with regard to identity and intrinsic eternal natures. Evil souls are beyond redemption, and Duryodhana's words demonstrates this very clearly.
5. Krishna himself declares at the onset of his visit that he doesn't go there to make peace, but to show to the world that the Kurukshetra war and destruction of the evil Kauravas is solely the blame of Duryodhana and his followers themselves.
C) Willingness and Stances on the Kurukshetra War:
It is well known that the Kurukshetra war of good against evil was the climax of the events of the Mahabharata. The question raised casts the spotlight on the Pandava brothers' individual views on the war, which may be found in the Bhagavat-Yana Parva (within Udyoga Parva), among other episodes of the divine epic Mahabharata. This will be discussed in this section:
1. Yudhishthira:
- The Avatara of Yama Deva, the God of Death and Justice himself.
- Yudhishthira genuinely did not want war with the Kauravas, though he knows full well of their evil nature.
- Yudhishthira had a misplaced sense of trying to co-exist with the worst among evil.
- Had forgotten his duty and sense as a Kshatriya.
- When Krishna returns from Hastinapura, Yudhishthira seeks refuge in Krishna and sees the necessity of war.
2. Bhima:
- Avatara of Mukhya Prana Deva, the chief messenger of Vishnu and God of life.
- Strongly supported Krishna's war against all evil on earth from the start. Was destroying evil demons right from childhood.
- It was Bhima who identified Duryodhana to be the demon Kali himself.
- Initially says to Krishna that every effort should be for peace, but realistically continues that not even death would change the eternal evil nature of Duryodhana.
- Declared his ability as the strongest among Kurus and being capable of wiping out all of the Kauravas and their supporters. This is confirmed as true by Krishna himself.
- Bhima's words are sometimes misinterpreted in view of the line "We would rather be servants of Duryodhana than allow the Bharata lineage to be destroyed." However, the context here must be understood. Krishna himself immediately reveals the hidden meaning of this verse and the true power and intention of the mighty Bhima.
3. Arjuna:
- Avatara of Indra Deva with the special presence of Ananta Shesha.
- Is famous for not wanting the war.
- His delusion, caused by manipulation from the Kaurava side, was shattered by Shri Krishna, who spoke Bhagavad Gita to him and effectively removed the poison of ignorant ideas that were injected into Arjuna's mind.
4. Nakula and 5. Sahadeva:
- Avataras of the Ashvini Kumaras
- Nakula was of the opinion that Krishna's visit to Hastinapura would end in peace. Supported either outcomes.
- Sahadeva desired war against the evil Kauravas, though not with the veracity or conviction of Bhima and Draupadi.
6. Draupadi:
- Only Bhimasena and Draupadi pushed the war effort in total service of Shri Krishna.
D) The Spiritual Significance of these episodes:
The following philosophical doctrines, among others, may be seen demonstrated by these episodes of the Mahabharata:
1. Vishnu is the Supreme God and refuge of all good souls. He is also the tormentor and destroyer of all evil.
2. Mukhya Prana Deva is the chief messenger and greatest servant of Vishnu.
3. There is an hierarchy among deities.
4. Every soul is an individual with their own individualized capacities and eternal intrinsic natures.
5. The Mahabharata stands supreme among scriptures as Vishnu stands supreme among all.
Hare Shrinivasa 🪷
