Jayadratha-Vadha Parva — The defeat of Alambusha

Sanjaya said The illustrious son of Somadatta piercing each of those mighty bow men, the sons of Draupadi with five shafts, again pierced them with seven.

Thus deeply afflicted by that fierce warrior, the sons of Draupadi, o king, became confounded and knew not what to do in that fight.

Thereafter that crusher of foes, namely Nakula's son Shatanika piercing that best of men viz., Somadatta's son with two arrows, became filled with joy and uttered a loud roar.

The rest of the brothers, then exerting their best in battle, pierced the irate son of Somadatta, each with ten straight-flyings arrows.

Thereupon, O mighty monarch, the illustrious son of Somadatta sped at them five arrows and with each of those struck each of the brothers on the chest.

Thereupon those five brothers pierced by the arrows of that high-souled one, surrounding the hero, wounded him soon with their arrows.

Then the son of Arjuna filled with rage dispatched the four horses of him to the region of Death with four whetted shafts.

The son of Bhimasena cutting of the bow of the illustrious son of Somadatta, uttered a fierce roar and pierced the latter with numerous sharp arrows.

The son of Yudhishthira felled his standard having at first cut it off, so also Nakula's son felled his charioteer from its place on the chariot.

Sahadeva's, son, then knowing him to be already vanquished by his brothers, cut-off, ) king, his head with a razor-headed arrow. Once more slaying four hundred warriors, he pierced Bhima with winged shafts. Then thus deepły pierced by that Rakshasa, the highly puissant Bhima.

Then that head fell down on ground beautifying the field of battle-head that was adorned with gold and that equalled in effulgence the newly-risen sun.

Beholding the illustrious son of Somadatta slain and his head roll on the ground, your troops, O king, greatly frightened, began to fly in all directions.

Alambusha filled with rage, fought on with the highly powerful Bhimasena, like the son of Ravana fighting with Lakshmana.

Beholding then that man and that Rakshasa engaged in fighting with each other, all creatures were filled with delight and wonder simultancously.

Then, O king, with nine shafts of depressed knots, Bhima smilingly pierced, O king, that wrathful son of Rishyshringa, that foremost of Rakshasas.

Thereat the Rakshasa, thus pierced, uttering aloud fierce roars in that battle, rushed, supported by all his followers, upon Bhima.

That Rakshasa then piercing Bhima with five arrows of depressed knots, quickly slew three hundred car-warriors engaged supporting Bhima.

Once more slaying four hunderd warriors, he pierced Bhima with winged shafts. Then thus deeply peirced by that Rakshasa, the highly puissant Bhima.

Squatted down on the terrace of his car, being overwhelmed with a swoon. Regaining his senses, the son of Maruta, overwhelmed with rage.

Stretched his dreadful and excellent bow capable of bearing a great strain and then he wounded Alambusha on all parts of his body with sharp shafts

Thus pierced with many shafts that Rakshasa resembling a heap of antimony looked beautiful, O king like a Kinshuka tree decorated with flowers.

Thus struck in that battle with arrows shot from Bhima's bow and recollecting the slaughter of his brother by that illustrious son of Pandu, the Rakshasa.

Caused his appearance to be dreadful and addressing Bhimasena spoke these words "Stay, O son of Pritha, on the field of battle and bchold today the prowess I am endued with.

O you of perverted understanding, I had a brother by name Baka who was the foremost of the Rakshasas and endued with great prowess. He was slain by you; but that transpired out of my sight.'

Having thus spoken to Bhima, he became invisible then and there; and then he covered the former with a thick shower of arrows.

Bhima also O king filled the welkin with arrows of depressed knots, when that Rakshasa became invisible in battle.

Thus wounded by Bhima, the Rakshasa soon got inside his chariot; and soon again he entered into the bowels of the earth and soon again becoming little, flew into the sky.

He assumed forms countless and large and small. Sometimes assuming subtle, sometimes a gross and sometimes a huge form, he began to roar like the clouds.

He spoke diverse kinds of words and uttered speeches everywhere. From the welkin then fell thousands of arrowy showers.

As also darts, Kunapas lances, pikes axes, spears, rockets, spiked maces, short javelins, battle-axes, rocks, scimitars treacle and swords and thunder bolts. That dreadful shower of weapons created by that Rakshasa.

Slaughtered the soldiers of Pandu's son on the field of battle. In consequence of showers of weapons, many elephants of the Pandava host were killed.

As also numerous steeds and foot-soldiers, O king. Slain by the shafts of the Rakshasa, many car-warriors were dislodged from their seats in the car.

The Rakshasa then caused a river to flow on the field of battle, the waters of which were constituted by blood and eddies by cars; which abounded in alligators constituted by the elephants, which has the umbrellas of carwarriors for its swans and the flesh and marrow of animals for its mire; which was infested with snakes formed by the severed arms of human beings; which was frequented by many Rakshasas and other cannibals; and O king, which carried with its currents numerous Chedis, Panchalas and Srinjayas.

0 monarch, seeing him careering dauntlessly on the field of battle and beholding his prowess, the Pandava became filled with anxious thought.

The soldiers of your army were then filled with delight; the musical instruments were then struck up emitting fierce and deep sound, making the hair to stand erect.

Then hearing that mighty uproar of delight caused by your troops, the son of Pandu (Bhima) did hot tolerate it, even like a snake not tolerating the sound of the palm-stroke.

Then with his eyes coppery in rage and consuming the foe like fire itself, the son of Maruta invoked the Tvashtra weapon like the god Tvashtri himself.

Thereupon a thousand shafts started into existence from all sides. Great was the carnage that was then created in your troops by those arrows of Bhima.

That weapon discharged by Bhimasena in battle, nullifying the mighty illusion of the Rakshasa, began to afflict the Rakshasa himself.

Thus that Rakshasa wounded by Bhimasena in all parts of his body, fled towards Drona's division, abandoning his antagonist.

Then, O king, when that foremost of the Rakshasas had been worsted by the illustrious Bhimasena, the Pandavas filled the quarters with the echoes of their war-cries.

Then filled with delight, they applauded the mighty son of Maruta the Marutas themselves applauded Shakra after he had vanquished Pralhada in battle. as