No, Krishna didn’t encourage or use any unfair tactics in the war. In all circumstances, His strategies were justified. Krishna is Bhagavan and therefore complete. What does He have to do with the Hastinavati kingdom when the whole jagat is His kingdom, as the Mahabharata itself states? It is so easy for people to say Krishna did something unfair, but nobody raises even a question about what the Kauravas did 13 years before. Was that justified?
These Kauravas snatched everything from the Pandavas through cheating and deceit. Dharmaraja had taken a vow not to refuse anyone. That’s why he came to the gambling. But what did these sinful Kauravas do? They cheated and humiliated Draupadi, the queen of the Bhaaratavarsha. Duryodhana asked Dushasana to bring Draupadi and asked Her to sit on his left lap. The left lap is the place for a wife. Is this justified? That sinner Dushasana dragged Draupadi, who is their sister-in-law, by Her hair and brought Her in the sabha, and even disrobed Her. Is this justified?
And for people’s information, there is a very bogus and fictional thing that people mention is that Draupadi said, “Andhe ka putra Andha” in the Mahabharata. This is not in the Vyasa Mahabharata, and Draupadi never said that. Karna asked Dushasana to disrobe Draupadi and asked Draupadi to enter Duryodhana’s room, on his bed. And this is stated in the Mahabharata. But some Buddhijeevis connect this with Draupadi humiliating Karna by calling him a sootaputra. This NEVER happened in the Mahabharata.
He even called Draupadi a veshya stree. Is this justified? Shakuni, who was also a great sinner, cheated in the dice game and supported the humiliation of Draupadi. Is that justified and fair? Draupadi at that time was menstruating and was in one piece of cloth. Do you think what the Kauravas did was fair or justifiable?
Due to all these reasons, they are all Adharmis. And what Krishna did in the war is completely correct, and nothing that He did was unfair. He fairly made all these sinners die. During the disrobing of Draupadi, it was Krishna who came to protect Her and gave Her Akshaya Vastra. It was Krishna who helped Draupadi during the Akshaya Paatra incident. SriMadhvacharya quotes the Paingi Shruti while explaining this:
धर्मो धर्मेण हन्तव्यो ह्यधर्मश्चाप्यधर्मतः ।
माया च मायया हन्तव्या पैङ्गीश्रुतिरियं स्थिता ॥
Dharmis should be killed by Dharma, whereas Adharmis must be killed by Adharma. Maya should be eliminated via Maya, and this is stated in the Paingi Shruti.
[Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya]
Therefore, Adharmis must be killed by Adharma. And this is the correct Dharma that Krishna established. Accordingly, Bheemasena rightfully killed Dushasana and broke Duryodhana’s thigh, and Arjuna too rightfully killed Karna, and Sahadeva killed Shakuni. Krishna had incarnated for the sole purpose of Dharma Samsthaapana, which He did. So, there is nothing that Krishna did wrong.
Coming to Bhishma Pitamaha and Dronacharya, they were killed for a different reason. Bhishma Pitamaha and Dronacharya were devotees of Krishna and were very knowledgeable people. But then, they were fighting on the side of Adharma and were attacking and opposing the Pandavas, who were Bhagavan SriKrishna’s devotees. So, Krishna didn’t want them to commit more sins by attacking His devotees.
Plus, they too had been silent during the disrobing of Draupadi and were participating in the war from the Adharma’s side. So, they were also eliminated from the yuddha. But in the end, Bhishma Pitamaha was very devoted to Krishna. Hence, Krishna provided Moksha to Bhishma Pitamaha. That’s why He is known as Bhishmamuktipradaayakah.
This is not only my take, but even the Mahabharata calls what Krishna did fair and rightful, and never opposes Krishna for doing Adharma. Some people do call Krishna chhaliya, treacherous, and whatnot. But that’s wrong. Krishna is Bhagavan, and hence doesn’t possess any flaws. What Krishna did is neeti and not cheating.
Hence, what He did is flawless and is as per the Dharma Shaastras and is morally correct, which the Kauravas 100% deserved. I am not saying this just because I am a fan of Krishna. I am a devotee of Krishna, but the thing is, the Mahabharata, which people claim is a political story, itself mentions it. In fact, in the Bhagavad Gita too, Krishna mentions many times that He is Bhagavan.
Hope this helps!
Jay SriRam!
ShriKrishnarpanamastu!