The document summarizes the strengths and weaknesses of generals from both the Kauravas and Pandavas sides in the Mahabharata war. It also provides context on the war scenario, including the events leading up to the war such as the game of dice where the Pandavas lost their kingdom. The current war strategies of both sides are outlined, with the Pandavas having distributed leadership across allied kingdoms, while the Kauravas have a centralized leadership model. Potential alternative strategies for the Kauravas are also mentioned, such as improving their public image portrayal.

2. Kauravas
Generals
Strengths
Weakness
• Icha
mrityu-­‐cannot
be
killed
without
his
wish
• Invincible
warrior
and
archer
tutored
by
Parsurama
whom
he
defeated
in
war
• Genius
military
tac>cian
• Love
for
enemies
–
swore
not
to
kill
Pandavas
• Told
them
the
way
to
defeat
him
• Jaded
and
>red
aCer
centuries
of
life
• Divided
loyal>es
–
Wanted
to
fight
for
Dharma
but
his
oath
prevented
him
Bhisma
• He
was
an
invincible
warrior,
whom
no
person
on
earth
could
defeat.
•
Had
weapons,
including
the
very
powerful
Bhramastra
fron
Parsurama
• Love
for
enemies
–
Arjuna
was
his
favorite
pupil
• Blind
love
for
his
son
Aswathama.
• Thirst
of
revenge
for
his
humila>on
by
king
Drupad
that
led
to
his
downfall
Drona
• Parashurama
trained
him
to
such
a
point
that
he
declared
Karna
to
be
equal
to
himself
in
the
art
of
warfare
and
archery.
• Protected
by
divine
armour
and
earings
and
later
Indrastra,Bhagravastra
• Danweer–
Will
donate
anythinh
if
approached
during
his
evening
prayer.
• Pandavas
elder
brother-­‐Vow
not
to
kill
pandavas
except
Arjun
• Curses-­‐
rendered
him
to
forget
all
teachings
and
his
chariot
wheel
stuck
Karna

3. Strengths
Weakness
• Shalya,
a
skilled
archer,a
powerful
mace
fighter
and
formidable
warrior.
• Shalya
was
an
incredibly
calm
and
deliberate
fighter,
which
why
he
was
such
a
good
charioteer
and
why
he
could
excel
at
mace-­‐
figh>ng
despite
his
unimposing
bulk
• Was
tricked
to
join
Kauravas
• Was
uncle
of
Nakul
and
Sahadev
• Yudhishthira
had
extracted
a
vow
from
Shalya
to
the
effect
that
Shalya
would
demoralize
Karna
and
dampen
his
spirits
whe
n
appointed
as
Karna’s
charioteer
Salya
• Considered
as
the
greatest
archer
of
his
genera>on
with
exemplary
skill
and
talent
• Posses
various
divyasthras
and
Bharmasthra
• Had
krisna
as
charioteer
to
guide
him
• Had
great
affec>on
for
his
guru
Drona
and
Bhisma.
Hence
fought
half
heartedly
with
them.
• Prone
to
rash
and
hasty
decisions
like
the
vow
to
kill
Jayadratha
in
1
day
Arjun
Kauravas
Generals
Pandavas
Generals

4. War
Scenario
• The
Kuru
territories
were
divided
into
Kauravas’s
Has>napura
and
Pandavas
Indraprastha).
• The
immediate
dispute
between
the
Kauravas
and
the
Pandavas
arose
from
a
game
of
dice,
which
Duryodhana
won
by
deceit,
forcing
their
Pandava
cousins
to
transfer
their
en>re
territories
to
the
Kauravas
(to
Has>napura)
and
to
"go-­‐into-­‐exile"
for
thirteen
years

5. War
Scenario
• The
Pandavas
spend
thirteen
years
in
exile;
They
spend
their
final
year
in
disguise
in
the
court
of
Virata,
and
are
discovered
just
aCer
the
end
of
the
year.
• At
the
end
of
their
exile,
they
try
to
nego>ate
a
return
to
Indraprastha.
However,
this
fails,
as
Duryodhana
objects
that
they
were
discovered
while
in
hiding,
and
that
no
return
of
their
kingdom
was
agreed.
War
becomes
inevitable.
• As
a
last
a[empt
at
peace,
Krishna
traveled
to
Has>napur
.
•
Krishna
asked
Duryodhana
to
give
back
Indraprastha
or
if
not
at
least
five
villages,
one
for
each
of
the
pandavas,
but
Krishna's
peace
proposals
were
ignored

6. Pandavas
Current
War
Strategy

7. Leadership
Pandavas : Distributed leadership. Seven commanders for the seven divisions.(1 man
command 1 akshouhini each).
• Virat (King of Matsya).
• Drupad (King of Pancala).
• Sahadeva(King of Magadha).
• Dhrshtaketu (King of Chedi).
• Satyaki (Only warrior from Dwarka).
• Shikhandi (Prince of Pancala).
Dhrshtadymna – Commander in Chief.
Arjuna –Supreme Commander.

8. Pandavas
• Panchala through Marriage with Darupadi.
• Dwarka through marriage with Arjuna and Subhadra.
• Magadh through marriage of Shadeva and Vijaya.
• Chedi through marriage of Nakula and Karenmayi.
• Kasi through marriage of Bhima and Balandhara.
• Kekaya through marriage of Yudhisthira and Devika.
• Matsya through marriage of Abhimanyu and Uttara.
• The Rakshasas through marriage of Bhima and Hidimba.
• The Nagas through marriage of Arjuna and Uloopi.
Allies

9. Kauravas
Current
War
Strategy

10. Leadership
• Centralized leadership.
• One Head of Army at a time, who has supreme authority of 11 akshouhini of
army. Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Shalya and Ashwatthama.
Allies
• Not many powerful allies, except from old relations from far off places like
Gandhara(Shakuni), Sindhu(Jayadrath) and Kambodia(Camboja - Bhagadutt)

11. Kauravas
Alternate
War
Strategy

12. Message-­‐
PR
• The
percep>on
in
Kaurava
camp
was
that
Kauravas
were
the
bad
guys
who
had
snatched
their
kingdom
and
had
tried
to
molest
their
wife
Draupat
• Pandhavas
were
touted
as
the
right
/
Dharma
• This
can
be
changed
to
ins>ll
confidence
and
commitment
to
Kauravas.
• Kaurava
can
do
this
using
strategies
•
Draupa>
insulted
Duryodhana
by
telling
• “Andhe
ka
beta
andha”
• Yudhishtra
can
be
potrayed
as
someone
who
gives
his
wife
for
dice
games
• Showcase
the
injus>ce
that
was
done
to
Dhritarastra
when
his
kingdom
was
given
to
Pandu
due
to
his
blindness

13. Abhimanyu
Death
Scenario
• Abhimanyu
know
the
way
in
the
Chakravyuh
and
was
trapped
in
it
• His
father
Arjuna
was
lured
away
from
ba[le
field
by
King
Bhagada[a
of
Pragjyo>sha
• His
uncles
were
engaged
for
the
day
by
Jayadratha
Strategy
• Instead
of
killing
Abhimanyu
the
Kauravas
could
have
had
an
exchange
for
Arjuna
• This
would
enable
Drona
to
capture
Yudhishtra
and
end
the
war
in
day
13

14. Jayadratha
Death
Scenario
• ACer
death
of
his
son
Arjuna
has
vowed
to
kill
Jayadratha
and
if
he
fails
self
immolates
Strategy
• Instead
of
Jayadratha
a
look
alike
can
be
placed
in
the
war
protected
by
warriors
• Dhrona
and
Arjuna
should
proceed
to
capture
Yudhistra
Outcome
• Arjuna
will
fail
to
fulfill
his
promise
• Yudhis[ra
will
be
captured