The Pandavas were better prepared and organized than the Kauravas, having turned weaknesses into strengths, built strong alliances, and developed a cooperative team spirit with distributed leadership. In contrast, the Kauravas lacked cohesion and commitment, as their leaders had personal motives conflicting with the war effort. The Pandavas' experience with diverse peoples and ideologies made them well-rounded and aware of realities, unlike the Kauravas who were isolated in their power.