Posted on 03 May 2026. 
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[Prof. C. Annapurna asked:- God Krishna took an oath before the war that He will not handle any weapon in the war. But, He took the wheel of a chariot and using it as a weapon, He ran towards Bhīṣma to kill him in the war. Is it justified to break an oath taken by Krishna, Who is the ultimate God?]
Swami replied:- When Duryodhana and Arjuna came to God Krishna asking for His help in the war, God Krishna said that He has taken an oath not to fight using any weapon. One cannot argue that the wheel of a chariot cannot be the weapon and hence, Krishna did not break His oath. Such an argument looks like a false argument created to artificially protect God Krishna. Such protection is not necessary for God Krishna because God Krishna made that promise only to break it in the war. God Krishna wanted to rectify Bhīṣma, who was having little ignorance even though he identified Krishna as God. Bhīṣma made a foolish promise that whoever sits on the throne of Hastināpuram will be protected by him, irrespective of his goodness or badness. Actually, both Dhritarashtra and his son Duryodhana were bad and selfish, but still Bhīṣma was standing on the side of Duryodhana in the war. Bhīṣma should not have made such foolish promise that he will protect the king whether he is good or bad. Bhīṣma, being the strongest warrior, could not be killed by anybody, but he was protecting the side of injustice. Since Bhīṣma is a great devotee of God Krishna, God Krishna also could not kill him. In the war, on the 9th day, Krishna ran towards Bhīṣma with the wheel of a chariot in His hand to kill Bhīṣma. This was a drama played by God Krishna because God will never kill His devotee.
Then, why did He do this drama? God Krishna wanted to show Bhīṣma that He is breaking His own promise to protect the side of justice. By this practical action, He taught Bhīṣma that a promise can be broken if necessary. Bhīṣma, who was helping the side of injustice (Kauravas), had grasped the hidden lesson from this demonstrated scene of God Krishna and on that night, Bhīṣma revealed to the side of justice (Pāṇḍavas) about the secret method to kill him and got himself killed by Arjuna through that secret method. God Krishna taught by this event that one should not help or support injustice and should always support and help justice, for which the means can be violated if necessary. He established that ‘Ends Justify Means’ and not vice-versa.
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