Vyuham and the Question of Modern Wars: War for What?

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In the Mahabharata, the Vyuham were not merely battle formations. They were symbols of discipline, geometry, and dharma. Even in the midst of destruction, there was a sense of order—rules that gave dignity to combat. Abhimanyu’s entry into the Chakravyuh is remembered not only as a tactical moment but as a deeply human tragedy.

Contrast this with today’s wars—Iran and the US, Russia and Ukraine, Israel and its neighbours. These conflicts often feel like battles without boundaries. Technology, propaganda, and brute force dominate, while ethics are blurred. The question arises: war for what?

 The Contradiction of Our Age

On one side, we advocate peace. Our daily prayers include “Sarve janaha sukhino bhavantu”—may all beings be happy. Yet who is truly happy? Nations chase superpower status, proving dominance at the cost of humanity.

Starting a war is easy. Stopping it is nearly impossible. And who bears the cost? Not the leaders who declare it, but the common people whose lives are shattered.

The Human Cost of Modern Wars

  • Economy and livelihood: My auto driver now pays more for fuel because global conflicts push up gas and LPG prices. A war fought thousands of miles away empties his pocket here at home.
  • Tourism and mobility: Families who once dreamed of travel now hesitate. Tourism collapses when instability spreads.
  • Jobs and migration: Thousands who go to the Middle East for work live in fear. No one is sure of their safety. A single missile strike can erase years of hard-earned stability.
  • Infrastructure and environment: Wars destroy not only buildings but the entire ecosystem—forests, rivers, air, and soil. The damage is incalculable and often irreversible.

War for What?

When I look at today’s wars, I feel deeply hurt and helpless. The so-called great heads of developed nations seem headless, blind to the suffering of ordinary people. Starting a war is easy, but stopping it is nearly impossible. And who bears the damage—the loss of lives, the destruction of homes, the collapse of ecosystems? Not the leaders who declare war, but the common man who never chose it.

Sri Krishna, as a d















oota, pleaded for peace before Kurukshetra, asking only for five villages so that the Pandavas could live with dignity. His voice was for the people, not for royal pride. That voice still echoes today, reminding us that true leadership means protecting the vulnerable, not proving power.

We recite “Sarve janaha sukhino bhavantu”—may all beings be happy. Yet who is happy when wars rage? Gas prices rise, jobs vanish, families live in fear, and the earth itself is scarred. The contradiction is unbearable: we preach peace, but we practice destruction.

So I ask, with all the weight of my heart: War for what? If no one is truly happy, if the common man suffers, if ecosystems collapse—then what is the meaning of this endless struggle?

Perhaps the only real victory lies not in proving superpower status, but in living the prayer we recite every day. Until nations learn to listen to Krishna’s call for peace, the common man will continue to pay the price for battles he never chose.

Closing Reflection

Vyuham teaches us that even in war, there must be order, ethics, and purpose. Modern wars, however, leave us with chaos, destruction, and unanswered questions. If no one is truly happy, if the common man suffers, if ecosystems collapse—then what are we fighting for?

The real victory lies not in domination, but in practicing the wisdom we already hold: “Sarve janaha sukhino bhavantu.”


QUOTES:

“Starting a war is easy. Stopping it is nearly impossible.”

“Not the leaders who declare war, but the common man pays the price.”

“Sri Krishna’s plea for five villages was for the people, not for royal pride.”

“We recite ‘Sarve janaha sukhino bhavantu’—may all beings be happy. Yet who is happy when wars rage?”

“The contradiction is unbearable: we preach peace, but we practice destruction.”

“War for what? If no one is truly happy, if the common man suffers, if ecosystems collapse—then what is the meaning of this endless struggle?”

“Perhaps the only real victory lies not in proving superpower status, but in living the prayer we recite every day.”

“Until nations learn to listen to Krishna’s call for peace, the common man will continue to pay the price forbattles he never chose










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