Krishna's Use of Deception and Disguise in the Mahabharat: Moral Justification for Unethical Means
Overview
This essay examines Lord Krishna's repeated use of deception, trickery, and dissimulation throughout the Mahabharat to defeat evil and restore dharma. The paper argues that Krishna justified morally questionable tactics—including strategic deceptions in the deaths of Bhishma, Dronacharya, Jayadratha, and Karna—as necessary and righteous actions when employed against immoral forces threatening truth and virtue.
What this essay covers
- Introduction establishing Krishna's divine purpose and philosophical justification for deception
- Analysis of five specific instances where Krishna employed trickery: Bhishma's death via Shikhandi, Dronacharya's deception, Jayadratha's illusory sunset, Ghatotkach as tactical sacrifice, and Karna's death while unarmed
- Conclusion arguing that Krishna's actions were contextually appropriate given the moral corruption of his opponents and the necessity to preserve dharma
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How Krishna Cheats, Dissimulates, and Operates Under Elaborate Disguise
The purpose of Lord Krishna's birth on earth was to remove evil and restore peace and dharma (virtue). He came to earth to spread the message that those on the path of truth will achieve victory. He was clear that he would not hesitate for once to do anything to save virtue on earth. That is why in Mahabharat, we read about many incidents where Lord Krishna resorted to deception or trickery whenever there was no other choice to win over the evil souls. According to him, sinning for dharma is no sin at all.
Krishna cheated in the killing of Bhishma. Parshuram was an unparalleled archer, and Arjuna had no power or knowledge even to bother him slightly. Only a strategy could defeat Parshurama. Krishna knew that Bhishma would not attack a female form, making Arjuna use Shikhandi, born as a female, as a shield (Smith 168). Krishna cheated in the killing of Dronacharya. It was well known that defeating Dronacharya was impossible when he had a bow and arrow in his hands. So, Krishna's strategy once again changed the game. He devised a plan in which Bhima killed the elephant Ashvatthama. Yudhisthir shouted, "Asvatthama is dead," to create a false impression in Drona's mind that his son Ashvatthama has died. This made Drona keep down his bow in shock and was immediately killed.
Krishna cheated in the killing of Jayadratha.