9 Times Krishna Showed How He Is The Real Boss In Mahabharata

Mahabharata is truly an epic. Thousands of central characters play a significant role in the outcome, and there are hundreds of incidents that have an influence on those outcomes.

And out of the thousands who had a role, no one played a more important role than Krishna. He influenced the whole outcome without even actively taking part sometimes.

Here is how he was the real boss in Mahabharata.

1. Krishna knew how to sell things, and knew how to portray himself as a harmless man

Even though the Yadavas were on Kaurava’s side, Krishna still commanded an army of Narayanas – skilled cowherds who were extremely good at fighting. When Duryodhana and Arjuna came to Krishna to request his army, Krishna cleverly said that he will not take part in the war. He would be unarmed and only be a measly charioteer.

Duryodhana, as we all know, chose the million Narayanas. But the expertise was that of Krishna, who expertly portrayed himself as useless.

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2. Krishna saved Arjuna from Bhishma’s wrath

Bhishma had promised Duryodhana that he would kill Arjuna unless Krishna himself takes up arms. Krishna knew that if Bhishma used all his powers, Arjuna is no match for him, and when the battle ensued between Arjuna and Bhishma, Bhishma came very close to defeating Arjuna. This is when Krishna picked up a chariot wheel and charged towards Bhishma.

Bhishma put down his bow and arrow and Arjuna was saved.

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3. And then finally plotted Bhishma’s death

Shikhandi was Amba reborn. Bhishma knew this and lowered his weapons when he saw Shikhandi coming. Krishna had instructed Arjuna to hide behind Shikhandi all the while, and when Bhishma finally lowered his guard, Arjuna killed him.

A very clever tactic by the innocent charioteer.

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4. Krishna sacrificed Ghatotkach so that Karna couldn’t kill Arjuna, saving Arjuna again

Karna had decided to kill Arjuna during the war and even reserved Indrastra for this job. Now, we should remember here that this is the Dwapara Yuga – that means warriors did not get unlimited usage of celestial powerful weapons like in the age of Rama.

Karna, poised to kill Arjuna, prepared himself, but Krishna had a brilliant idea – he let Ghatotkach loose on the Kauravas. Ghatotkach went on a rampage and the Kauravas begged Karna to stop him.

Karna used the Indrastra on Ghatotkach, killing him. Ghatotkach was Bhima’s own son. Krishna saved Arjun again and potentially made Karna useless without the Indra Astra.

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5. Krishna disposed of Dronacharya

Everyone in Mahabharata knew about Yudhisthira’s penchant for always telling the truth. Dronacharya, the teacher of the Pandavas and Kauravas was virtually unassailable on the battlefield. The Pandavas could not have defeated him in a straight fight. So Krishna convinced Yudhisthira to tell a half-lie – not technically a lie.

Yudhisthira announced that Ashwatthama was dead – but the elephant.

Drona, not doubting Yudhisthira’s word for one second, became sad for his son’s loss. Dhristhadumnya chopped his head off.

Krishna arranged another defeat.

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6. When Ashwatthama was enraged and undefeated, Krishna found a way to neutralize him too

Ashwatthama, who was enraged beyond measure vowed to wipe out the entire Pandava line and raided the Pandava camp in the dead of night. In his madness of anger, he directed Brahmanda Astra towards Uttara, the wife of Abhimanyu.

Krishna stopped this weapon and in anger ripped out the jewel that was embedded on Ashwatthama’s forehead – his source of power. He also gave him a terrible curse.

Remember that Ashwatthama was an incarnation of Shiva himself, and could not have been stopped if he would have been in anger.

Krishna nullified this threat to Pandavas too.

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7. Krishna made Duryodhana mortal and vulnerable

Gandhari had gathered a lot of power due to her oath to become blindfolded even though she could see. She decided to pour all her powers into Duryodhana when she agreed to remove her blindfold for one last time.

Krishna knew that this would make Duryodhana invincible and when Duryodhana was walking to Gandhari’s chambers, Krishna taunted Duryodhana for going to meet his mother completely nude. Duryodhana covered his groin and that is the place where he is most invulnerable. The rest of his body became as strong as steel.

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8. And arranged the defeat of the last person standing between Pandavas and the throne

At last, only Duryodhana was left, and when Bhima and Duryodhana fought, Balarama also spectated because he was the one who taught them the art of fighting with a mace.

Duryodhana was a better fighter and exhausted Bhima. That was when Krishna slapped his thigh to remind Bhima of the oath he had sworn where he would break Duryodhana’s thighs and drink his blood. Bhima broke the rules of war and mortally wounded Duryodhana. Balarama was enraged at Bhima for not following the rules of war and picked up his own mace to kill Bhima.

Krishna interfered and held Balarama in a bear hug.

Bhima lived.

Duryodhana died.

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9. After the war, he used an iron statue of Bheema in the meeting with Dhritarashtra after sensing Dhritarashtra’s anger.

Dhritarashtra was given a boon by Vyasa that he will possess the strength of a thousand elephants. When the Pandavas went to Dhritarashtra to seek his blessings, Dhritarashtra was overcome with anger just before he hugged Bhima. Duryodhana was his favorite son. Krishna knew of the boon and pushed an iron statue in place of Bhima. Dhritarashtra crushed the statue into powder.

Krishna effectively saved Bhima’s life again.

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The Pandavas were helpless children without Krishna

The Pandavas were puny in the face of the Kaurava army. They really were. How could they have resisted the might of Bhishma, Karna, Drona and Ashwatthama? Ashwatthama alone could have finished the battle in his wrath, taking Shiva’s tandav avatar.

Krishna was the only reason the 5 brothers prevailed against the 100.

While most of the books related to Krishna glorify his heroics when he brought down the evil king Kansa, and how he was a naughty boy in his childhood, his political proficiency is only lately being studied. Although he proclaims himself as a God, he is the closest to a normal human in Mahabharata.

He gets angry, he lies, he cheats, he is intensely loyal to his friend and does everything to see him win. He schemes, he plots, and gossips. He taunts and feels sad and pacifies people who get angry.

He inspired people, and in the end, won the whole war with his brains. No brawn whatsoever.

We may criticize him for the schemes he pulled, but unlike the other righteous fair-skinned gods that do only good, we can always see our own reflection in dark-skinned Krishna.

He is the ultimate proof that brain always trumps brawn, just like in the real world.

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