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61. NON-COOPERATION
"Son of Ganga, I need the help of you
both," he said. "You will both do deeds of
great heroism, I have no doubt. At the
break of dawn, the battle joins. Let there
be no fighting among friends, with the foe
in full force before us!"
But Karna was adamant in that he would
not take up arms so long as Bhishma was
in supreme command. Duryodhana
eventually yielded to Karna and suffered
him to carry out his threat.
Karna kept out during the first ten days of
the battle, though all his men participated
in it. At the end of the tenth day, when the
great Bhishma lay on the battlefield
covered all over with arrows, Karna went
to him and bowed reverently and asked
for forgiveness and blessings, which he
received.
Thereafter, Karna cooperated and himself
proposed Drona for the command of the
Kaurava forces in succession to Bhishma.
When Drona also fell, Karna took over the
command and led the Kaurava forces.
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