ASSERTIVE OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE

Life is like a boat rocking in turbulent waters, tilting in different directions according to the movement of water.  An expert boatman is one who knows how to row and maneouver it  diligently and protect the boat from drowning. We are forced to face life situations and whilst facing these situations we  use different strategies. People who use idealistic strategies face drowning like situations because of their fixed ideas. Practical people on the other hand use brutally realistic strategies .

It is very interesting to know  that Gandhiji referred to the Gita and Hitler too, but both had an opposite perspective.
Gandhiji took only the symbolic meaning of it. And Hitler imitated the story by brutally murdering innocent people. Gandhi wanted peace and Hitler wanted war. Gandhi's approach gave him fame whilst  Hitler's approach gave him infamy.

Gita  teaches peace and prepares us for war. Krishna whilst going as peace messenger on behalf of the Pandavas with their message of "give us five villages " said ,"we want peace but we are prepared for war". Duryodhana was given many practical options one of them was that he become the regent prince .

He was told that the combined force of the Kauravas and Pandavas would be invincible even for a demigod like Indra. Lord Krishna also spoke to him about the power of the Pandavas  especially Arjuna who had defeated the entire clan of  Kuru commanders. Parashurama also told the Kurus  of the power of the Pandavas, especially Arjuna who was none other than Nara and Krsna was Narayana.
Kanva Rishi told Duryodhana of the evil of pride.
Narada Muni instructed Duryodhan.  . Bhisma and Drona pleaded.
Krishna threatened ...
So many people tried ...
But it was like hitting the head against a rock wall.  In such a condition how could good advice work or which peace talk would make sense? What was needed at that juncture was violence of peace. In other words some strong punishment to establish a sensible king. Duryodhana was one who was proving his disqualification with his  "no cooperation attitude". It was his arrogant independence which lead to the Great War. The option of war was bad,  but without punishing Duryodhana there could have been a legacy of prolonged exploitation of the people  which Krishna had to stop. So war was certainly  the last resort .

To deal with Duryodhana's offensiveness, lord Krishna chose assertiveness, because defensiveness was abused and assaulted. Defensive party of the Pandavas had given many years to the offensive party to change but it had not benefitted any one. When the disease is not controllable by medicine the doctor gives a strong dose but if that does not work surgery is a must if that does not work too, then removal of the rotten organ  becomes imperative for the rest of the body to survive.
Duryodhana's party had become cancerous and was  spreading the disease all over so  it had to be removed so that the rest of the body of society survived..

So  the Gita is idealistic but reluctantly takes  the decision of practical violence. Once the decision is taken  it executes ruthlessly till the violent adharma is terminated.
Gita wants peace of Gandhi but is  ready for controlled violence of dharma unlike Hitler's brutality.