01Born from the fire
He came up out of the sacrificial fire of Drupada’s yajna like a flame, wearing a crown and armour, with a sword and bow in his hands, and roared as he mounted a chariot. A voice from the sky said this prince was born to kill Drona and to end the Panchalas’ grief. Drona heard of it, and still took him as a pupil and taught him arms; the Adi Parva says he did so knowing fate could not be turned aside, and wishing to keep his own good name. At the svayamvara it was Dhrishtadyumna who announced the test, and who followed the five brahmins home in secret to learn who had won his sister.
02Commander of seven armies
The Pandavas had seven akshauhinis and seven great leaders, and needed one over them all. Each brother named someone. Arjuna named Dhrishtadyumna, the man born to kill Drona, and Krishna agreed. He held the command for all eighteen days, drew up the formations, and stood against Drona day after day. He was a fine fighter, but his whole life pointed at one moment.
03Day fifteen, and the night after
When Drona put down his weapons and sat in yoga on his chariot, Dhrishtadyumna ran at him with his sword drawn, caught him by the hair and took off his head, while Arjuna shouted to him to take the teacher alive. Satyaki called it a disgrace, and the two nearly came to blows in front of the army. On the night after the war ended, Ashvatthama came into his tent. Dhrishtadyumna woke under his feet and begged to be killed with a weapon, so he could reach the warriors’ heaven. Ashvatthama refused and stamped the life out of him.