Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.1207

c5.1207

"No doubt it was Duryodhana who came first. But, it was Arjuna whom I met first. Since Duryodhana came first and I saw Arjuna first I shall help both of you in war. There is the adage that youngsters should be given priority of consideration. So, Arjuna may indicate his preference first. I shall give one of you an army of 10 lakhs of warriors as strong in body as myself, and I shall stand by the other without arms and without fighting. Arjuna may make his choice first. And, he chose Kṛṣṇa for his side in the war while Duryodhana was happy to get Kṛṣṇa's mighty army. (M.B. Udyoga Parva, Chapter 7).