This question is fantastic. And Mahabharata is truly an ocean of wisdom if we wish to ask such a question. My answer is - The end may or may not justify the means. The best approach therefore, is to analyse for yourself and decide. In each situation. There is no one answer that will fit every situation! Therefore, I am going to try and make arguments from both sides. Let's see! Let us take a few instances from the epic - 1. Trying to avoid the war as far as possible - Pandavas do all they can, to avoid the war. Yudhishthir is very pragmatic. He knows by Dharma (Morality / Righteousness. There isn't an exact equivalent for the word in English) , he should be the king. Yet, his first reaction is not to go to war for the same. He negotiates, understands, talks, argues and tries everything else.