Krishna gives a choice to Arjun and Duryodhana for his support in Battle

 When the cousins Pandavas and Kauravas had declared war they had started mobilizing their forces and met different kings and other relatives to come and fight on their respective sides  to  win the battle.

Duryodhana went to meet Lord Krishna who was sleeping and took a chair and sat near his head. Arjun came a little later and saw  Krishna was in deep sleep and sat near his feet. Both did not want to disturb Krishna in his sleep.

After some time Krishna awoke and saw Arjun at  his feet and welcomed him. Later he saw Duryodhana and extended him his welcome. After Krishna finished his morning duties he asked them the reason for their visit early in the morning.

Duryodhana was alarmed by the presence of Arjun and thought he would ask for the army of Krishna  and said “Oh Krishna I came first and hence you have to give me audience first.”

Krishna said “Duryodhana You could have come first but I saw Arjun first and also he was younger to you and hence it is natural and customary for me to listen to his demands first.”

Saying this he turned to Arjun and asked him what his demand was? Arjun told him of the impending war and wanted Krishna to help the Pandavas. Then Krishna turned to Duryodhana and he also demanded the same and wanted Krishna’s help on the side of Kauravas.

Now Krishna said “Both of you have the same demand and both of you are related to me. So I will give you a choice. I have a million Narayanars, the yadhava soldiers,  who are the best soldiers and well equipped to fight anybody and they will fight on one side and I will be with the other side without armaments and will not be fighting but only advice and help. Choose between this two. And since Arjun is young and I saw him first let him have the first choice.”

Arjun without even thinking for a second said “Krishna I want you to be on our Pandava’s  side.”

Duryodhana was very happy and thought how foolish Arjun was in rejecting a huge well equipped army and go for a non fighting Krishna. He asked Krishna for this  huge army of Krishna and  got it and went away with that Army to fight in the battle of Kurushetra.

Arjun knew the real strength and power of Lord Krishna and was happy to have him on the side of Pandavas to fight the battle with them.