It’s very interesting question. Every body knows why and when Arjuna chose Krishna as his charioteer - Yes it was Arjuna who chose Krishna as charioteer and not other way around. It was a masterstroke that actually many of Kouravas never imagined. Yes Kouravas knew the ‘bonhomie’ between two, they knew Krishna would do many thing for Pandavas - but no one actually imagined the impact of Krishna becoming the charioteer of Arjuna.
It was only during battle Kouravas slowly started realizing the massive impact of the decision.
For example - it was on 17th day Karna realized that he needed a charioteer who could match Krishna in chariot driving.
Before explaining that I would tell you that the major characters of Pandavas side actually wanted the same. You have to analyze the Mahabharata very carefully.
1st Incident - Remember when Krishna first time visited in the forest to meet Pandavas, Krishna got angry when he saw the situation of Pandavas and Arjuna tried to calm him down. That in turn made Draupadi angry and she blasted Bhima and Arjuna for failing to protect her. Krishna made a promise that he would lend his power to her husband and would ensure her husbands avenge her. He promised Bibhatsu would kill her enemy - carefully look the promise he made. KMG Translation further mentioned that when Krishna made the promise Draupadi looked at Arjuna and he technically promised that it would happen exactly as Krishna said.
2nd Incident - When Jayadratha tried to abduct Draupadi she mentioned that no one can abduct her when two Krishna ride on same chariot come for her rescue. Now the question is how did she knew Two Krishnas (Arjuna and Krishna) would ever ride on same chariot to go for war? Or why did she ‘imagined’ liked that?
3rd Incident - After killing Karna when they returned to meet Yudisthira, Krishna informed us that Yudisthira wanted him to be Arjuna’s chariot driver. Please be patient and I am not transferring the credit for Arjuna choosing Krishna as his charioteer to any one else.
Now the question is why? Both Draupadi and Yudisthira knew about Pandavas very well and both had their own judgement. They knew the fate of their win depends on Arjuna. It’s going to be an absolute battle where every strength and weakness count. Arjuna was the best in class Archer - best in skill and best in knowledge of weapon but he had certain weakness.
Let me list down that here -
- He fears committing sin. He would be in doubtful state if he fails to guess an act would be regarded as sin or good deed. He wanted to remain sin less.
- He was compassionate and emotional at same time. I won’t say it is bad characteristics but for a man on whom an entire side depend has to be more stable.
- His refusal to fight against his Acharyas such as Drona or Kripa, His refusal to fight properly against Bhisma, his sudden rash act of taking a vow after he got the news of Abhimanyu’s death or his 17th day fight where he had almost killed Yudisthira or himself would be regarded as weakness in battle ground however good it morally sound.
- Every man has his own flaws and it depends how correct it. Arjuna’s remedy was Krishna. It is Krishna alone who understand Arjuna fully. It Krishna who knew Arjuna better than Arjuna knew himself. Krishna was great strategist and a great chariot driver. But his real impact was how he find solution to each of Arjuna’s weakness.
- For example Kunti tells Krishna to keep reminding Arjuna of Draupadi’s humiliation? Why? It was Krishna who kept reminding him of Draupadi’s insult in an ultimate time. Think how Krishna spoke of Draupadi’s insult when Karna asked Arjuna to stop war and let him pull chariot wheel. In that moment Krishna recounted the the humiliation of Draupadi and it worked like double edge sword - it silenced Karna and equally made Arjuna rage. Before that Arjuna treating him as competitor of archery, that rage made him take Karna just enemy who need to be killed. Now it’s not that Arjuna reluctant to avenge Draupadi. By being a positive guy revenge always takes lesser priority for him. But same time the urge of justice or vengeance some times provide extra power inside people - it makes people more determined. By reminding Draupadi’s humiliation Krishna psychologically changed the way Arjuna was looking at the duel.
- It was this that made Arjuna absolutely invincible who can’t exploited by any means. When I say absolute power which includes characteristic weaknesses - Bhisma had problem with Sikhandi, Drona had problem with his son - when he heard the death of his son in rage he ended up misusing divine weapons and lost them.
- Now if we say Krishna can be remedy to every one then where lies the credit of Arjuna? No. That is a mistake. Krishna was remedy only for Arjuna and no one else - none tried to listen to Krishna. No one was flexible to bend.
- Where as Arjuna could be corrected as he was more flexible but only Krishna could argue and convince him.
So be it Draupadi, Yudisthira, Bhima more likely wanted to see Krishna becoming Arjuna’s chariot driver. Staying long for many days each of them personally knew others very well.
Krishna himself wanted that. And he knew given a choice between an army or unarmed Krishna - Arjuna would make second choice and make him his own charioteer. This was necessary for the win of Pandavas.
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