Q. Please tell me, how many days the the Mahabharata was going on? In those days,was all the world working as it is? When Krishna was telling the Gita to Arjuna, were all others means kauravas stopped there? – Kanhaiyya
A. The Mahabharata War lasted for eighteen days. This war (like all the wars during Vedic times) was fought only between ksatriyas, or military men. Common innocent people, like women, children and old men, were not forcibly dragged into such fights. Nor were there lives affected by the war in any way. Everyone continued with their daily activities while the Pandavas and Kauravas fought among themselves.
When Krishna was speaking the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna, everyone—including Kauravas and their whole army—listened to the transcendental message. Some accepted it, others did not.