Mb074. Bhisma To Command Kauravas Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

MAHABHARATA

Who was to be an army chief?
Duryodhana consulted in brief,
His friends and brothers all,
On Bhisma the choice fell.

Bhisma to command he pleaded,
His services badly they needed.
Conditions, however, Bhisma laid.
In so many words these he said.

"War is forced on my head,
I'm after peace instead.
Pandavas never I'll kill
But Soldiers many I'll."

"No doubt, I'll fight for you,
But success is not for you.
Dharma is on their side.
Adharma is on our side."

"Where our Krishna is,
There righteousness is.
Where righteousness is,
There victory sure is."

"His natural armour Karna lost.
Parasurama cursed him in the past.
The divine missiles will fail
At the nick of moment they will."

"Still to you Karna is close,
He's better for you to choose.
May be, he fits in the show.
Your opinion let me know."

Duryodhana then said, "No,
Whatever conditions be so,
Your leadership is our privilege,
A great warrior you're of this age."

"Bhisma is on Pandavas' side,
No mind he has to fight this side.
To Kauravas, he isn't for justice,
In Warfield he talks of peace."

So saying Karna took a promise,
Until Bhisma in the war dies,
Not to fight under his command,
He took this stiff stand.

In one way Duryodhana thought,
Better Karna after Bhisma fight.
For his vow to kill Arjuna,
Close to the heart of Bhisma.

Their discussions came to a close.
For the war Kurukshetra they chose.
They waited for the crucial hour,
To start next day the strategic war.