Years Before The War

The Pandavas returned to Indraprastha after the marriage ceremony. The Kauravas were not interested in allowing the Pandavas to return to their kingdom, as during the exile, there was one episode when Arjuna, as Brhanalla, conquered the army of the Kauravas. The elders of Hastinapura refute the allegation, as mathetmatically, the year was technically over when Brhanalla fired upon the Kaurava army while in disguise at the Matsya kingdom. All of India knew that a great war was going to take place. Therefore, both sides were choosing and selecting their allies. Krsna decided to make a proposal to the Pandavas and Kauravas, on allies. Krsna offered either His divine army or an unarmed Krsna. Arjuna, being a devotee and friend of the Lord, wanted only Krsna, while Duryodhana, being foolish, took the divine army. Krsna, being officially on the side of the Pandavas, tried to make every peace proposal. However, the mind of Dhrtarastra and Duryodhana was so foolish that they not only refused any compromise or peace, but they insulted Lord Krsna in the process. When Duryodhana tried to arrest Krsna, He assumed such a powerful form with great radiation of light, that no one was able to see anything, except for Bhisma and Vidura, who were pure devotees of the Lord.

Right before the onset of the war, Kunti revealed to Karna that she was his biological mother. Karna, after hearing the painful confession and realization of who his true brothers are, decided that he will spare the other four Pandavas and attack Arjuna. Whether Arjuna dies or Karna dies, there will be five sons remaining. Krsna, too, persuaded Karna to join the Pandavas. He even assured that Yudhisthira will give up any aspiration to seize any kingdom if Karna joined the Pandavas. However, considering his loyalty and his debt to his friend, Duryodhana, to be most important, Karna rejected the offer of Lord Krsna.

Every peace proposal was rejected and one thing was certain: war was inevitable. Vidura was upset on this situation that he resigned as minister. Having no one by his side, Dhrtarastra was alone. By the command and the mercy of Vyasadeva, Sanjaya (disciple of Vyasadeva) obtained divine vision to be able to see the events of the war, even though they were at the court of Hastinapura. This way, Sanjaya was able to narrate the happenings of the war to Dhrtarastra.