Question: Are we saying that the entire war was fought just to kill Duryodhana, whom I think was very correct in his thinking except his one mistake of Draupadi vastra haran?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
Lord Krishna’s purpose was to establish the rule of righteous leaders and reduce the burden of earth in the form of belligerent kings who were simply interested in personal aggrandizement. By Vedic standards, the king is not only expected to be an expert administrator but also a representative of God on earth (nara-deva) who can both uphold the laws of God within society and facilitate the citizens on the path of spiritual progress. (Please see BG 4.1 and 4.2 purports)
Duryodhana obviously did not possess these qualifications, for he repeatedly demonstrated his disregard for religious principles, not only in insulting Draupadi but also in the dice game and in his numerous attempts to murder the Pandavas, in which his primary goal was simply to establish his own supremacy. Many a times he disregarded and even insulted saintly persons such as Bhisma, Vidura and even sages like Vyasa and Maitreya Rishi. Ultimately he directly derided and assaulted Lord Krishna Himself, when the Lord came to the Kuru assembly as a messenger of peace. How could such a king who had no regard for virtue be expected to exemplify, protect and guide the citizens on the path of virtue? Therefore, it was the supreme will of the Lord to remove Duryodhana and his associates and establish Yudhisthira, just as in the paddy field unwanted plants are removed. This would serve an instruction to the whole world that virtue always wins over vice.
Please also refer to Digest 46 Why does Krishna seem to help one justify one’s false ego?
Digest 49 Character Evaluation of Karna
