The Mahabharata war was primarily a war between the two Kuru families. Since Sri Krishna was related to both the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Sri Krishna’s father Vasudeva was brother of Kunti making Sri Krishna a first cousin to the Pandavas. On the other hand Sri Krishna’s son Samba (born through Jambvati daughter of Jambvan) was married to Duryodhana’s daughter Lakshmana making the two closely related to each other. His active participation on either side would have created further family rift. But chieftains from his army stood rank on both sides, especially Satyaki and Kritvarma.
Secondly he had in a way foreseen or rather forewilled the result of the war in which the main instrument was Arjuna, chosen as the man of destiny. It was important that the Pandava brothers especially Arjuna is kept safe from the devious designs of the Kauravas. Driving the chariot of Arjuna ensured that they were always together thereby ensuring the victory. His spiritual force constantly accompanying the main hero Arjuna was a much better way to ensure victory especially given the role of charioteer in the battle (see how Salya as charioteer helped in Karna’s defeat) than if they were split and fighting independently.
Finally as we all know that wars are first won in the mind and then on the battlefield. Planning and strategy are the most important elements in the war and Sri Krishna kept this role to himself.
Of course I am not bringing in the spiritual dimension wherein Sri Krishna and Arjuna had fought together the battle of the Ages as Nar Narayan. Their coming together was the occult condition of victory against the forces of darkness embodied by the Dhritrastrians. This occult truth of the Divine Force and the human instrument ensuring victory is declared to be one of the profound secrets of all battles, ‘yatra yogeshwar Krishna, yatra partho dhanurdhara, tatra srivijayo…..’. Sri Krishna, during the war was in a Superconscient state as the yogeshwar and not a warrior. This was needed to ensure the victory as indeed it did.
Krishna fighting the war would have risked the life of Arjuna whereas Sri Krishna playing the charioteer of dear Arjuna would ensure his safety (as is evidenced by a number of events such as Jaidratha vadh, saving him from Takshaka Astra of Karna, ensuring death of karna, restraining him from leaping at Dhristdyumna to save Dronachaya, saving him from Bheesma’s wrath etc) and with Arjuna alive and Krishna by his side, the victory was inevitable.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
