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58.THE PANDAVA GENERALISSIMO
He is much respected by all
kings, and is supporting us, as if we were
his own sons. He should lead our army
against Drona and Bhishma."
Dharmaputra then asked Dhananjaya for
his opinion. "I think, Dhrishtadyumna
should be our chief in the battlefield. The
hero who has his senses under control and
who has been born to bring about Drona's
end. Dhrishtadyumna alone can withstand
the arrows of Bhishma whose skill in
archery made even the great Parasurama
hold back. He is the only man fitted to be
our commander. I can think of no one
else," replied Arjuna.
Bhimasena said: "O king, what Arjuna
says is true, but the rishis and elders have
said that Sikhandin has come into the
world to kill Bhishma. My inclination
would be to give the command to
Sikhandin whose radiant face is like that
of Parasurama. I do not think any one else
can defeat Bhishma."
Yudhishthira finally asked Kesava for his
opinion. "The warriors mentioned are,
each one of them, worthy of selection,"
said Krishna. "Any one of them would fill
the Kauravas with fear. All things
considered, I would endorse Arjuna's
choice. Anoint Dhrishtadyumna,
therefore, as your Supreme Commander."
Accordingly, Dhrishtadyumna, Drupada's
illustrious son, who led Draupadi at the
swayamvara and gave her away to Arjuna,
who for thirteen long years was brooding
over the insult that his sister had to suffer
in Duryodhana's court, and who was
waiting for an opportunity to avenge the
wrong, was anointed Supreme
Commander of the Pandava army.
The lion-roar of warriors, the blowing of
conchs and shells and the trumpeting of
elephants rent the air, With warlike cheers
which made the sky ring, the Pandava
army entered Kurukshetra in martial
array.
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