Some people ask, “What was everyone else in the two armies doing all that time when Krishna-Arjuna were deep in discussion?”

They were waiting for the Krishna-Arjuna discussion to end. 

If this answer seems implausible, that’s because we often superimpose our present conceptions of war on the Kurukshetra war. Wars in those times, especially in India, were less like today’s wars and more like today’s sports events. They were seen as a test of skill and strength; the point was not just to win, but to win through a fair fight. 

That the mood was akin to a sports competition can be seen from several details:

  • The Pandavas didn’t launch a stealth attack on the Kauravas, but announced their intent beforehand and waited till the scheduled time to start the fight. 
  • Both sides agreed to restrict the fight to the battlefield, which was decided in advance to be Kurukshetra, thereby avoiding any civilian casualties. 
  • Both sides fought fiercely from morning to evening — and thereafter didn’t just cease hostilities but even intermingled casually and cordially. 

Did everyone follow all these rules? Yes, at least initially while Bhishma was the Kaurava commander for the first ten days of the war. On seeing Krishna and Arjuna engage in a discussion, Bhishma’s action (or inaction, as it may be) indicated to his forces that they shouldn’t attack. They knew better than to break the war code that forbade attacking an unprepared enemy. 

In fact, the Krishna-Arjuna discussion was not the only incident that put the war on pause. After their discussion ended, Yudhishthira descended from his chariot and walked on foot to the Kaurava side, wanting to seek blessings of his elders there. Even during that time, no one attacked anyone else. 

It’s no surprise, then, that the armies waited for Krishna and Arjuna to finish their discussion. 

One-sentence summary:

Krishn and Arjuna could have their discussion uninterrupted on the battlefield because both armies were, at least initially, fighting in a sporting spirit. 

Think it over: 

  • How was the mood of the Kurukshetra war different from the mood of today’s wars?
  • What details testify to this mood of the Kurukshetra war? 
  • What other event testifies to this mood?

***

02.10: O descendant of Bharata, at that time Krishna, smiling, in the midst of both the armies, spoke the following words to the grief-stricken Arjuna.

 

How could Krishna and Arjuna have had their entire discussion on a battlefield?

To know more about this verse, please click on the image