Krishna’s presence in the Mahabharata extends far beyond the battlefield discourse and suffuses the epic as a whole. He appears as a diplomatic mediator who repeatedly strives to avert the catastrophe of war, going personally as an emissary to Hastinapura and seeking even the most modest terms for reconciliation. In this role, he exposes the injustice and moral blindness of those who reject peace, thereby revealing the deeper currents of adharma that make conflict inevitable. His interventions in the Kuru court, especially in response to Draupadi’s humiliation, underscore his function as a witness who publicly names and challenges wrongdoing. Through these actions, Krishna is not merely a character within the story but a lens through which the ethical failures of the age are brought into sharp relief.

At the same time, Krishna stands as the Pandavas’ foremost ally, strategist, and protector. His counsel shapes their political decisions, their alliances, and their conduct during exile, while his familial ties deepen the relationship from mere alliance to intimate kinship. On the battlefield he vows not to wield weapons, yet as Arjuna’s charioteer and chief strategist he decisively influences the course of the war. By guiding the Pandavas through complex tactics and by orchestrating the downfall of formidable warriors such as Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and Duryodhana, he demonstrates that the restoration of dharma sometimes requires difficult, even unsettling, means. This moral complexity invites reflection on a dharma that is responsive to circumstance rather than rigidly bound to outer forms.

Krishna also appears throughout the narrative as a spiritual and ethical guide whose teaching is not confined to formal discourse. He offers counsel on kingship, truth, and duty, helping the Pandavas navigate situations where simple rules no longer suffice. His role as divine protector, including his shielding of the Pandavas from destructive weapons and curses, reveals a dimension of grace that operates within, yet also beyond, human effort. The epic repeatedly presents him as an incarnation of Vishnu, a cosmic force working through human events to restore balance and bring an age of accumulated adharma to its close. In this light, his political maneuvers, battlefield strategies, and personal relationships can be read as facets of a single, overarching movement toward the reestablishment of dharma in a world on the threshold of profound transition.