Did Pradyumna, son of Lord Krishna, participate in the Mahabharata war?

Question

Pradyumna had knowledge of how to enter and exit the Chakravyuha.

I want to know:

If Pradyumna did not participate in Mahabharata war, then why didn't he participate?
If Pradyumna did participate in Mahabharata war, why didn't he help Abhimanyu with the Chakravyuha?

I don't think any of Krishna's sons participated in the war. Perhaps it's because they would have had to fight on the Kaurava side, like Kritavarma, and they didn't want to. — Keshav Srinivasan, Sep 09 '15 at 09:34
@KeshavSrinivasan Why they would have to fight on Kaurava side? The Kauravas didn't do any good to Pradyumna or did they? — Pinakin, Nov 01 '15 at 09:46
@ChinmaySarupria Because Krishna pledged his army to Duryodhana. — Keshav Srinivasan, Nov 01 '15 at 12:14
He didnt fight in Kurukshetra. He went pilgrims with his uncle Balaram — user11749, Aug 18 '17 at 21:16

Sarvabhouma · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-12T03:41:38.243

Pradyumna did not take part in the kurukshetra war. Balarama who taught war skills to Duryodhana, in mace (gada) was also teacher for Bhima. He was well wisher of the Pandavas and did not wanted to participate in the war. He didn't want any of his family members to fight against each other. He stated if either of the two brothers Balarama or Shri Krishna fought on behalf of any side using their weapons, then the war would finish on the first day. So Balarama and no other family members of Shri Krishna took part in the war against him.

But Satyaki was an exception who fought for the Pandava army even Krishna promised his army to Kauravas. While Kritavarman who was one of the Maharathas gave his 1 akshauhini army of Yadava clan stayed with his army and fought for Kauravas.

Abhimanyu talks with his uncle Dharma Raja before entering into Padma Vyuha in Drona Parva. He mentions his teacher pradyumna several times. There he equated him sometimes with Krishna and sometimes with his father Arjuna. If Pradyumna fought in the war behalf of Pandavas, Yudhishtira would havedirectly call upon him or plot against him. There are direct references of him from Adi Parva, Sabha Parva where he participated in Rajasuya, in Vana Parva, in Mausala Parva how he dead and how he returned back to his original abode. But Pradyumna there is no single reference that he took active participation in the Kurukshetra war.

So my conclusion is : Pradyumna did not take part in the war.

We can find the names of some Yadava warriors like Satyaki, Chekitana, Kritavarma and his son Matrikavat in the list of warriors finding behalf of two sides but there was no name of Pradyumna.

Sources:

Combatants on the field of Kuruksetra
Chapter 7 of Udyoga Parva for Bala Rama remaining neutral and not participating in the war.
Abhimanyu-vadha Parva, [Drona Parva] of the Mahabharata for Abhimanyu's conversation with Yudhishtira.

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 31 '15 at 15:45

It was never clearly explained. We can only guess. Perhaps he didn't want to fight against his father? If Balarama refused to fight because he didn't want to face his brother, then it would follow that Pradyumna may choose not to participate because he would not fight against his father.
Duryodhana was supposed to have full access to the Yadavas, except Krishna. But Satyaki, a Yadava, fought for the Pandavas.

Did Pradyumna, son of Lord Krishna, participate in the Mahabharata war?

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