Dhrishtadyumna- Hindu HeroHero"Commander of the Pandava Army"

Birth from the Sacred Fire

Dhrishtadyumna's birth was an act of vengeance years in the making. His father, King Drupada of Panchala, had been humiliated by Drona, who conquered half of Drupada's kingdom to settle an old grudge. Drupada commissioned the sages Yaja and Upayaja to perform a sacrificial rite. From the flames emerged a fully grown, armored warrior, accompanied by his sister Draupadi. A divine voice declared that this youth would slay Drona.

The Killing of Drona

Dhrishtadyumna commanded the Pandava army at Kurukshetra. On the fifteenth day, Drona was tearing through the Pandava ranks and no one could stop him. Krishna devised a trick: Bhima slew an elephant named Ashwatthama, and Yudhishthira was made to announce that Ashwatthama was dead. The name belonged to Drona's beloved son. Drona heard it, believed his son had been killed, and laid down his weapons. He sat in meditation on his chariot.

Dhrishtadyumna crossed the battlefield with his sword and took Drona's head. The prophecy spoken at his birth was fulfilled.

Death

On the night after the Pandava victory, Drona's son Ashwatthama broke into the sleeping camp. He found Dhrishtadyumna and stamped the life out of him rather than granting him a warrior's death by the sword. The man born to kill Drona was killed by Drona's son.