Did Pandavas kill unfairly many warriors like Bhishma from Kauravas side?

 

Those, who consider killing of Bhishma, Drona, Bhurishrava and Karna and Duryodhana as unfairly, may take note of the following incident, which explains as to how karma works.

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There exists a saying of Guru Shukracharya addressed to Vrishaparvan, the king of Demons and father of Sharmistha (Mahabharata).

Sharmistha humiliates Devayani, the daughter of Shukracharya and then Kavya (Shukracharya) became angry himself. And approaching Vrishaparvan where the latter was seated, began to address him without weighing his words.

नाधर्मश्चरितो राजन्सद्यः फलति गौरिव

पुत्रेषु वा नप्तृषु वा न चेदात्मनि पश्यति

फलत्येव ध्रुवं पापं गुरुभुक्तमिवोदरे

“'O king,' he said, 'sinful acts do not, like the Earth/Cow, bear fruit immediately! But gradually and secretly do they extirpate their doers. Such fruit visit either in one's own self, one's son, or one's grandson. Sins must bear their fruit. Like rich food they can never be digested.”

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We have to consider subtleties involved in elimination of Bhishma, Drona, Bhurishrava , Karna and Duryodhana by Pandavas.

A) Bhishma

We have to remember that Bhishma had a boon given by his father, ie, death will not approach him unless he asked for - स्वच्छन्दमरणं. So, as long as he decides to stay alive, no one can kill him - fairly or unfairly.

On the 10th day of the war, he decided to invite death, which was explained in another post.

B) Drona

Drona, though an expert in archery and all types of weapons, did so many mistakes. The result of those mistakes, hit him hard on the 15th day of the war.

Remember that Dhristyadyumna merely cut off the head of Drona, after the latter threw his weapons, and sat in meditation unto death. So, he was as good as already a DEAD person, when Dhristyadyumna severed his head.

Dhristyadyumna was no match to Drona, though he was born to kill Drona.

C) Bhurishrava

We have to remember that Bhurishrava was present when Abhimanyu was killed unfairly and he remained silent.

On the 14th day of war, at the behest of Yudhisthira Satyaki came to help Arjuna and was in a tired position by the time Bhurishrava attacked him. The one-to-one combat went on for some time, thereafter, Bhurishrava overpowered Satyaki and was about to kill him, when his karma of remaining silent, at the unfairly killing of Abhimanyu, hit him hard in the form of an arrow discharged by Arjuna. His hand was chopped off.

Arjuna reminds him about killing of Abhimanyu.

Then Pandu's son Dhanajaya, called also Phalguna, incapable of bearing thy sons speaking in that strain, as also of putting up with their words and the words of Bhurisravas, O Bharata, in grief and without an angry heart, and as if for reminding them all, said these words,

'All the kings are acquainted with my great vow, viz., that no one shall succeed in slaying anybody that belongs to our side, as long as the latter is within the range of my shafts. Remembering this, O stake-bannered one, it behoveth thee not to censure me. Without knowing rules of morality, it is not proper for one to censure others.

That I have cut off thy arm while thou, well-armed in battle, wert on the point of slaying (the unarmed) Satyaki, is not all contrary to morality.

But what righteous man is there, O sire, that would applaud the slaughter of Abhimanyu, a mere child, without arms, deprived of car, and his armour fallen off?'

Thus addressed by Partha, Bhurisravas touched the ground with his left arm the right one (that had been lopped off). The stake-bannered Bhurisravas, O king of dazzling effulgence, having heard those words of Partha, remained silent, with his head hanging down.

And, later he was killed by Satyaki.

D) Karna

I do not dwell much on this subject, as contrary to Vyasa’s Mahabharata, subsequent inserted so many interpolated stories/dialogues in the epic, especially those related to Karna, which makes it difficult to have a fair discussion on this subject.

To explain in brief, Karna reaped the result of his unfair deeds committed towards Pandavas, on the 17th day of the war.

His Guru Parashurama’s curse started to take effect, as a result he could not recollect many DIVINE weapons that he learnt. Brahmana’s curse took effect, resulting in wheel of his chariot stuck in the Earth.

Arjuna merely completed the task by discharging an arrow, when Karna was still fighting and eliminated him.

E) Duryodhana

Death did not come very easily for him, though the remaining warriors got a quick death, but getting their heads chopped off/slain immediately.

Duryodhana ‘s Karma manifested at the time of fight with Bhima. Though he tried to escape the blow of Bhima’s blow, he could not, as his Karma overpowered him.

That blow had broken his thighs and he suffered for a long time crying, moaning, unable to stop approaching animals, before death relieved him from pain.

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Dharma is very subtle, which will not work according our arguments.