Drona’s Fall – The Strategy That Changed the War
The Kurukshetra War had entered one of its darkest stages.
Bhishma had fallen.
Abhimanyu had been killed.
Jayadratha had been defeated.
Ghatotkacha had sacrificed himself.
Now Drona, the teacher of both Pandavas and Kauravas, was commanding the Kaurava army.
Drona was an extremely powerful warrior, and the Pandavas were struggling to stop him.
1. Drona Becomes Nearly Unstoppable
Drona fought with extraordinary skill.
He knew the weapons and techniques of the Pandavas because he had personally trained many of them.
On the battlefield, he became extremely difficult to defeat.
He attacked the Pandava army repeatedly.
Yudhishthira was especially worried because Drona wanted to capture him.
2. The Pandavas Search for a Way to Stop Drona
The Pandavas realized that defeating Drona through ordinary combat would be extremely difficult.
Even Arjuna found it difficult to stop his teacher.
Krishna understood that Drona had one great emotional weakness.
His greatest attachment was to his son Ashwatthama.
If Drona believed that Ashwatthama was dead, his desire to fight might disappear.
A difficult strategy was therefore discussed.
3. Ashwatthama the Elephant
There was an elephant in the Pandava army named Ashwatthama.
Bhima killed the elephant.
Afterward, Bhima loudly announced:
“Ashwatthama is dead!”
Drona heard the statement.
But he did not immediately believe it.
He knew that his son Ashwatthama was a powerful warrior.
Drona wanted confirmation from someone he trusted.
4. Drona Asks Yudhishthira
Drona approached Yudhishthira.
He knew Yudhishthira was famous for his commitment to truth.
Drona asked him whether Ashwatthama was really dead.
Yudhishthira answered carefully.
He said:
“Ashwatthama is dead…”
Then he added that it was the elephant.
According to the traditional account, the sound of battle drowned out the second part of his statement.
Drona therefore believed that his son had died.
5. Drona Loses His Will to Fight
When Drona believed that Ashwatthama was dead, he was devastated.
His attachment to his son was stronger than his desire for victory.
He put down his weapons and became deeply absorbed in grief.
This created the opportunity the Pandavas had been waiting for.
6. Drishtadyumna Attacks Drona
Drishtadyumna, the commander of the Pandava army, had a special reason for fighting Drona.
He had been born with the destiny of defeating Drona.
When Drona put down his weapons, Drishtadyumna approached him.
The battle between them came to an end.
Drona was killed.
The great teacher who had trained both sides was no longer on the battlefield.
7. Ashwatthama Learns About His Father’s Death
Ashwatthama eventually learned that his father had been killed.
He was filled with rage.
He believed that the Pandavas had used deception to bring about Drona’s death.
His anger became uncontrollable.
Ashwatthama decided that he would take revenge.
8. Karna Becomes Commander
After Drona’s death, the Kaurava army needed another commander.
Duryodhana turned to his closest friend and greatest supporter:
Karna.
Karna accepted the responsibility.
He had been waiting for the opportunity to face Arjuna directly.
Now the war had entered its final and most dangerous phase.
9. Karna’s Final Battle Approaches
Karna was one of the greatest warriors on the Kaurava side.
He had a deep rivalry with Arjuna.
For years, both warriors had wanted to prove who was superior.
Now they were finally moving toward their inevitable confrontation.
Karna knew that the battle against Arjuna could decide the course of the war.
10. Krishna Reminds Arjuna
Krishna knew that Karna was an extremely dangerous opponent.
He also knew secrets about Karna’s birth that Arjuna did not fully understand at the beginning of the war.
Karna was actually Kunti’s firstborn son.
That meant he was the elder brother of the Pandavas.
But Karna had chosen to remain loyal to Duryodhana.
The coming battle would therefore be filled with tragedy.
11. Karna and Shalya
Karna needed a skilled charioteer.
King Shalya eventually became his charioteer.
The relationship between Karna and Shalya was not always peaceful.
Yet Karna entered the battlefield determined to fight.
His goal was clear:
Defeat Arjuna.
12. The Final Duel Is Near
The battlefield was now filled with exhausted warriors.
The war had already taken the lives of countless soldiers and great heroes.
But one major confrontation remained.
Arjuna versus Karna.
Both warriors were extraordinary archers.
Both had powerful weapons.
Both had personal reasons for fighting.
Their meeting would become one of the most famous duels in the Mahabharata.
The Final Battle Is Coming
Drona had fallen.
Karna was now leading the Kaurava army.
Arjuna was preparing for the battle he had awaited for years.
But Karna’s destiny was already complicated by several curses and events from his past.
During his final battle with Arjuna, those past events would come back to him.
The story continues in Maha Bharatham Part 22 – Karna vs Arjuna: The Final Duel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who killed Drona?
According to the traditional Mahabharata account, Drishtadyumna killed Drona after Drona laid down his weapons.
Why did Drona stop fighting?
Drona believed that his son Ashwatthama had died and became overwhelmed by grief.
Was Ashwatthama actually dead?
No. The Ashwatthama who was killed was an elephant. Drona misunderstood the statement because of the way the information was conveyed.
Who became commander after Drona?
Karna became commander of the Kaurava army.
Who was Karna?
Karna was secretly Kunti’s firstborn son, making him the elder brother of the Pandavas, but he remained loyal to Duryodhana.
What happens next?
The great duel between Karna and Arjuna is about to take place
