Dhritarashtra’s court was also engaged in war preparations, although the citizens of Hastinapur were torn between their hatred for Duryodhana and their sympathy for the Pandavas.
Like Yudhishthira, Duryodhana’s prime concern was to select a commander-in-chief who would be able to lead his army, much bigger than the one Dhrishtadyumna had mobilized. Unlike Yudhishthira, his task, however, was much easier, as he knew that the indisputable choice would be Bheeshma, in view of his stature, age, wisdom and unrivalled skill in archery. Above all, he had been endowed by the gods with eternal life because death could not touch him unless he summoned it himself. Grandfather to both Duryodhana and Yudhishthira, he was the most revered person in the Kuru clan. So Duryodhana exulted over the fact that, under his command, victory was assured.
But when Duryodhana approached Bheeshma for his support in the war, he saw the old man so deep in thought. Bheeshma found himself in a great dilemma. On the one hand was his love for Arjuna and Yudhishthira and on the other the pledge he had given to his father, Santanu, that he would always act as the saviour of Hastinapur, whoever was its ruler. He felt himself bound to his vow, like an elephant chained to the trunk of a banyan tree. He realized that he would have to fight on the side of injustice. He felt himself in the grip of some malignant destiny, and there was no avenue of escape.
It was, therefore, not without great hesitation that he nodded his consent.
‘Yes, I agree to lead your army. But let me say truthfully that I love the Pandavas too. I have a premonition that I am fated to fall to Arjuna’s arrows because he is a far more skilled archer than myself. But I will take it as a blessing to be vanquished by someone I love and admire. Well, such are the quirks of destiny!’ There was a brief pause. Then, looking directly into Duryodhana’s eyes, he added, ‘But I have one condition for leading your army.’
‘I will cheerfully accept any condition, O dear grandfather,’ Duryodhana responded.
‘That you will have to choose between me and Radheya,’ Bheeshma said. ‘He has always been an eyesore to me – for his warmongering and arrogance. His hatred for Arjuna is appalling. He is obsessed with the thought of killing him.’
This threw Duryodhana into a great turmoil, as he was now called upon to forsake someone who was dearest to him. But since the war had to be won under all circumstances, he felt compelled to give in to the old man.
When he mentioned this to Radheya, his response was prompt: ‘I will step out of his way most willingly, O Duryodhana. All that I pray for is your victory, nothing else. If, however, he is fatally wounded on the battlefield, I will step in to fight for you, under anyone’s command. Do not forget that I have pledged to kill Arjuna, now our arch enemy.’
Deeply touched by his self-abnegation, Duryodhana hugged his friend impetuously.
‘You are a great giver, O Radheya – a dedicated and loyal friend.’ He paused. ‘You know that for a moment, I thought I would much rather lose this war than forsake you.’
Bheeshma now engaged himself in drawing up his war plan in consultation with Drona and other veterans. Like Bheeshma, Drona too found himself caught in a bind. How could he bring himself to fighting Arjuna, who was as dear to him as his own son Asvatthama? He could only hope that he would somehow be able to evade Arjuna on the battlefield.
The Kaurava and Pandava armies now faced each other on the battlefield of Kurukshetra like two behemoths, poised for a bloody fight that would shake the entire earth.