THE GREAT KURUKSHETRA WAR - ELEVENTH DAY

Karna entered the battlefield, much to Duryodhna's joy. He made Drona the supreme commander of the Kaurava forces. Drona formulated his battle plans to capture Yudhisthira alive. Arjuna rushed to the scene, however, and with a flood of arrows made Drona retreat.

After the fall of Bhishma, the Kaurava army looked like a herd of sheep without the shepherd. On the eleventh day, the Kaurava army marched to the battlefield in mournful solemnity. The thoughts of everybody instinctively turned towards Karna, who abstained from the fight all those ten days. "Invite Karna to conquer the Pandavas" was the slogan heard everywhere. They recalled Karna's challenge to Bhishma- "If you conquer the Pandavas, I will retire to the forest as a recluse; if you fall, I will fight and conquer the Pandavas. I do not fight under your command." After the fall of Bhishma, Karna was expected to join the fight. Karna came to the battlefield, followed by his sons and soldiers, resplendent like the rising son. Duryodhana along with the armies extended a warm welcome to Karna, who embraced him and proclaimed, "All these days, the great warrior, Bhishma as the Commander- in- Chief of the Kaurava army has rendered commendable service to our cause and acquitted himself most creditably, and wrought dreadful damage to the enemy. Let us complete the work which the great hero has begun.

Karna asked his charioteer to hoist the elephant standard on his chariot. As soon as the flag was hoisted, he bowed to Duryodhana and ascended the chariot and blew his conch. Karna went to Bhishma in his chariot accompanied by his friends and followers. He descended from the chariot at a distance and went to him on foot and bowed to the grand old warrior, wetting his feet with his tears. He said in the usual traditional style, "Great Warrior, I am Radheya, I have come to offer my humble homage to you and crave your pardon in public. The Pandavas are no doubt great heroes. But you rendered them helpless, and made Krishna jump down from his seat twice in utter anguish. I have come to seek your blessings ; with your benediction I go to conquer the enemies." Bhishma replied, "Great warrior, you are a born hero and a great soldier. You have proved that friendship is the noblest of all sentiments in this world superior to the bonds of blood relationship. Duryodhana's greatest asset in his life is his friendship with you. Great hero, may you be the architect of Duryodhana's victory."


Karna took leave of Bhishma, bowing to his feet and returned to the battlefield. The chariot of Karna, with the dazzling elephant standard drawn by crimson studs decorated with golden jewellery and jade was conspicuous by its presence on the battlefield for the first time. Duryodhana came to Karna and said, "Great Warrior, our armies were commanded by Bhishma,, universally acclaimed as the greatest hero of our times. Now I request you to suggest the name of a suitable warrior who can step into his shoes. I leave the choice to you." Karna replied, "King of Kings, amongst your generals everybody is competent to hold the post of the generalissima. All are accomplished and seasoned warriors. However, it is not possible for all of them to be Commanders- in- Chief simultaneously. Drona, the senior most among the veteran warriors, I feel, he will be the fittest choice. By age and ability, wisdom and valour, Drona will be the idea generalissimo. If he is appointed, nobody will grudge and nobody will feel bypassed and aggrieved. A brahmin by birth, an acknowledged preceptor of the bow by the universal choice, acclaimed as the most outstanding warrior by friend and foe alike, I feel, Drona will be the best choice." Duryodhana followed by Karna and other leaders approached Drona and said, "Great Preceptor, by character or capacity, age or ability, valour or wisdom you are the stalwart amongst us. Gangeya was always telling us that you excel him in every way. We have unanimously decided to request you to be generalissimo and lead us to victory."

Drona was pleased with Duryodhana for offering him the post of Commander- in -Chief. He did not conceal his joy. However he said, "I have studied the Vedas and Vedangas; but destiny has made me the so called preceptor of the bow. I cannot vouchsafe for my valour or your victory. But I will do my best, I will try to lead the Kaurava armies with discipline and decorum, and defeat the Pandava armies with your co-operation." Duryodhana anointed Drona as the generalissimo amidst the chanting of the Vedic hymns, blowing of horns and beating of the kettle-drums. The priests poured the sacred waters of the holy rivers over his head. Conches and clarions were blown and trumpets were sounded. The Vandis and Magadhas recited the traditional homages. Drona was elated at the honour done to him, said to Duryodhana, "King of Kings, I am pleased with your conduct, sense of soberity, correct perspective and propriety. Ask any Boon, I will give it." Drona's words were a pleasant surprise for Duryodhana. He conferred with Duhsasana and Karna and said to Drona, "Master of the bow, I thank you for the gracious gesture. As a noble teacher, you love the Pandavas and I do not ask you to kill them. The boon I solicit from you is to take Dharmaputra as a prisoner and hand him over to me alive."

It was a pleasant surprise for Drona as well. He said "Yudhisthira richly deserves the title of Ajatasatru. His worst enemy has not asked for his head but wished him to be taken captive alive. Alright, I will give you the boon on one condition. If Arjuna frustrates me in my attempt, I cannot help it. If you can draw Arjuna away to another sector from Yudhisthira, I will capture him alive and hand him over to you. Anyway, let me know what you propose to do then, as a prisoner of war cannot be put to death. Duryodhana said, "I hope to persuade him to a fresh game of dice." Drona had a hearty laugh. Duryodhana arranged drummers to broadcast the vow of Drona, that he would take Dharmaputra, captive, amongst the soldiers and gave it wide publicity. The Kaurava army received the announcement with great enthusiasm blowing their conches and clarions and indulging in lion roars. Yudhsthira came to know of the vow of the Kaurava generalissimo, preceptor Drona, through his spies and held consultations with Arjuna and other leaders.

They decided to guard Dharmaputra carefully. Drona, who was naturally eager to cut a good figure on the first day of his generalissimoship, indulged in indiscrimante slaughter of the Pandava forces, he destroyed the elephant divisions; killed the cavalry units, wrecked the chariots and slayed the soldiers in thousands. Sakuni wrecked the chariot of Sahadeva who jumped down from the chariot with the mace in his hand and advanced towards the former. Sakuni fled from the battlefield in haste to save his life. Similarly Sandhava also fled from the battlefield, defeated by Abhimanyu. Salya advanced on Abhimanyu holding the mace in his hand. Bhimasena intervened and asked Abhimanyu to step aside. Salya and Bhima clashed with each other with their maces in single combat, like two mountains, which sprung to sudden animation. They fought for a pretty long time. Kripa rushed to the spot and took Salya in his chariot. Bhima regained consciousness in due course. Meanwhile Drona visited all the sectors of the battlefield going in a whirlwind tour and returned to attack Yudhisthira to fulfil his promise. Yudhisthira gave a stiff fight to Drona. Drona came very close to Yudhisthira and was ready to pounce upon him.

There was tumultuous uproar and the Pandava forces raised a terrific hue and cry. They shouted, "Yudhisthira has been taken captive, Yudhisthira has been taken captive." The Kaurva armies blew their conches and clarions." Suddenly Arjuna arrived at the spot, like a lightning flash. He immediately attacked Drona. The Kaurava warriors soon arrived to give support to their generalissimo. The sunset and the darkness enveloped the battlefield, hostilities ceased for the day. Drona's bid to capture Yudhisthira was foiled by Arjuna at the nick of time, much to the disappointment of Duryodhana.

Drona explained to Duryodhana, "King of Kings, when you gave the promise to capture Dharmaputra alive, I had a premonition that Arjuna would foil my attempt; I told you so. If you can devise a sure way to distract him successfully and take him from the scene of action, I will capture Yudhisthira." Susarma, the leader of Samsaptakas came out with an extraordinary offer. He said, "We will challenge Arjuna to a separate fight. We will fight to the bitter and will not retreat. I promise to hold back Arjuna. Duryodhana welcomed the offer and thanked Susarma profusely. Susarma organized the Samsaptakas hordes as a suicide squad. They lighted a sacrificial fire and vowed before it to fight Arjuna without retreating from the battlefield. They knew fully well that they could not defeat Arjuna; however, a vow was a vow, soaked in despair and determination. They offered oblations to their souls in the fire in advance and out on sacrificial robes and donned round red marks on their foreheads drawing their own blood with their swords.