All discussions had failed. War was certain. The armies were getting ready with seven divisions of the Pandavas. The Pandavas had their divisions under Drupada, Virata, Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhandi, Satyaki, Chekitana and Bhima. The Pandavas appointed Dhrishtadyumna their commander-in-chief. Similar preparations were going on among the Kauravas.
The Kaurava army had eleven divisions. Command was given to Bhishma, the seniormost of all. No warrior or soldier dared face him. Bhishma made some rules after he had been made commander-in-chief. According to the rules, there would be no fight after sunset; no soldier or warrior would be attacked if he fled the field or surrendered himself or was unarmed; there would be a fair and just battle in every respect; no third soldier would intrude upon the two soldiers engaged in a fight.
He undertook the command on condition that he would do all the duties of a commander-in-chief but he would not kill any of the Pandavas. Bhishma and Karna were hostile to each other. So, Karna said that he would enter the war only after Bhishma had left the field. Then, he would kill Arjuna. The armies began to move towards Kurukshetra.
The Commander-in-Chiefs
