Short Stories from Mahabharata: 12- Kurukshetra War- Ethics of Politics

The trigger point for this story is the Lakshagraha story edition from Mahabharat. This was a point in time, when Dhritarashtra was forced to identify Yudistira as the crowned to be prince (Yuvraj). This is when Duryodhan and Shakuni start plotting to throw him off track and win the kingdom back. Dhritarashtra always had an idea that his brother in law secretly wants Duryodhana to be the king of Hastinapur and always plots to get rid of Pandavas. He never openly endorsed it, but inwardly supported and kept it hidden from his wife and others in the kingdom.

While the Lakshagraha trick was the episode when people, recognized Shakuni for who he was. He planned discretely a trip for to be crowned prince to Varnavat and ordered a grand palace to be made out of fat, wax, and wood which can burn quickly and silently. Only that the plan was uncovered too quickly and Pandavas were saved of their sheer luck. This was not a very ethical way to derailing your opponents, but was a good quick fix. Everyone in the Kaurava clan was was okay with it except for Karna, who kept warning off Duryodhana to call the mission off. The unfortunate thing was that he was not able to walk away from his friend who rescued him in time of need. 

With Mahabharat we shall see and learn multiple such instances when the ethics were not followed through in this course of rein. How Satyavati made Bhishma vow for celibacy, How Drona was killed, How Duryodhana himself was killed, how Barbaric was thrown off the flight, etc. But one thing will become clearer that the balance was slightly tilted towards Pandavas, and by no one other than Krishna. Scheming was done in ample throughout by both parties I might add, but only one who were considered villainous. Makes me wonder, if there is any place for ethics in politics.