Drona in Command
Part 2 / Chapter 13 / 83 chapters
Drona in Command
spends the night grieving 's fall and the collapse of his sons' protection. visits alone at night. dismisses the guards, reveals that he has always known to be and Surya's son, and urges him to end the feud by joining his brothers. acknowledges his birth but refuses to betray , whose friendship and support he has long enjoyed; forgives him and grants permission to fight, while warning that may send him to a warrior's heaven. The next day both armies gather at the arrow bed. When asks for water worthy of a warrior, shoots into the earth and releases a cool fountain. uses the wonder to plead once more for peace, but remains silent. enters the war declaring that he will kill or follow to death, and recommends as the only commander all the Kaurava kings will obey. warns that Drstadyumna was born to kill him, but dismisses the prophecy and installs him. then learns that wants captured alive so another dice game can send the Pandavas into exile. says capture is possible only if is drawn away. asks to remain near him, and vows that no one will take his brother while he lives.
This guide follows Krishna Dharma's retelling as the source of truth. This panel notes broad edition-level framing or compression that helps a reader orient themselves.
- 1
absorbs 's fall
spends the night making repeat the details of 's fall. He grieves that the protection of his kingdom and sons has collapsed and admits that his own evil counsels helped cause the disaster.
- 2
reveals 's birth
visits the arrow bed alone at night. dismisses the guards, calls him closer, and says Narada and Vyasa told him long ago that is 's son by Surya, not a charioteer's son by birth.
- 3
refuses 's appeal
asks to reconcile with his brothers and end the war. accepts the truth of his birth but says he cannot desert after a lifetime of friendship and honor. forgives him and grants permission to fight, urging him to cast off arrogance and warning that may send him to a warrior's heaven.
- 4
The armies return to the arrow bed
At daylight kings and warriors from both sides gather peacefully around . When he asks for water, ordinary cups do not satisfy him because he still lies as a warrior on the field.
- 5
gives water
circles respectfully and shoots a Parjanya-charged arrow into the earth beside him. A cool fountain rises directly into 's mouth.
- 6
makes one more appeal for peace
Using 's feat as proof of the Pandavas' power, begs to settle the conflict before more men die. gives no answer and leaves.
- 7
enters the war
arms himself, declares that he will either kill or go to the next world following , and rides to the front. and the Kaurava troops are heartened by his arrival.
- 8
becomes commander
recommends as the one leader every Kaurava king will obey. warns that Drstadyumna was born to kill him, but dismisses the prophecy and installs the preceptor as commander-in-chief amid drums, conches, and renewed confidence.
- 9
asks for alive
offers a boon for his appointment. reasons that killing would unleash and that all five brothers cannot be slain; capture would let another dice game send them back into exile.
- 10
requires 's absence
says he cannot capture while protects him. must devise a way to draw far from the king before can fulfill the request.
- 11
vows to protect
News of 's promise reaches the Pandava camp. asks never to go far from him; swears that while he lives, will never take captive, even though he will not kill his teacher.