The slaughter of Alambusha

Sanjaya said Alambusha then began to career dauntlessly on another part of the field. And when he was thus careering, Hidimba's son rushed against and quickly pierced him with whetted shafts.

Then like the battle between Shakra and Shambara in the days of yore, the battle between those two foremost of Rakshasas became terrible, as they invoked into existence many illusions.

Highly excited, Alambusha began to strike Ghatotkacha. The battle between those two best and foremost of the Rakshasas that then raged.

O master, resembled that between Rama and Ravana, that took place in days gone. Thereupon Ghatotkacha piercing Alambusha on the breast with a score of Narachas uttered incessantly lion-like roars; so also, o king, piercing the invincible son son of Hidimba repeatedly, Alambusha became filled with। delight and he roared filling the welkin with his roars. Then those two foremost of the Rakshasas, both endued with might and both excited to the highest pitch of fury.

Fought on with each other, displaying numerous illusions and none getting any advantage over the other. Creating hundreds of illusions and therewith confounding each other.

Those two Rakshasas, versed in illusive combats, fought on displaying illusions O king; and in in that that battle whatsoever illusions Ghatotkacha created.

Alambusha nullified them with those of his own, O ruler of men. Then beholding that foremost of the Rakshasas, that one versed in the illusive mode of warfare, viz., Alambusha fight in that manner, the Pandavas became greatly enraged. Preyed upon by anxiety and excited with rage, Bhimasena and others, supported by many best car-warriors, assailed him with force. ( sire, then they having completely surrounded him with the host of their cars covered him from all sides, with their arrows, like men covering an elephant with blazing brands. Checking the force of their weapons with the illusive weapons of his own.

Alambusha freed himself from the press of those cars, like an elephant freeing himself from a forest-conflagration. Then stretching his bow the twang of which resembled the roar of Indra's thunder, he

Pierced Maruta's son (Bhima) with twentyfive, Bhimasena's son with five, Yudhishthira with three and Sahadeva with five arrows.

Then again, O sire, piercing Nakula with seventy-three and the sons of Draupadi, each with five arrows, he uttered a loud and dreadful war-cry.

Thereupon Bhimasena pierced the Rakshasa with nine arrows; Sahadeva pierced him with five and Yudhishthira with a hundred shafts.

Nakula pierced him with sixty-four and the sons of Draupadi each with three shafts seperately. The son of Hidimba then piercing the Rakshasa (Alambusha), with five hundred arrows.

Once more pierced him with seventy arrows; and that highly powerful one sent up a loud roar. In consequence of that roar of his, the earth trembled.

With her mountains, forests trees and watery expanses. O king, pierced deeply by those mighty car-warriors, those fierce bowmen from all sides, Alambusha.

Pierced all of them in return with five shafts each. Then the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha became thoroughly enraged upon the enraged Alambusha.

And the former (the son of Hidimba) then pierced the latter with seven shafts. O king that foremost of the Rakshasas, endued with might viz., Alambusha, being pierced deeply by his powerful antagonist.

Quickly created numerous arrows, furnished with golden wings and whetted on stone. Those shafts of depressed knots then penetrated into the body of the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha.

Like angry snakes of great strength entering into a mountain summit. Thereupon, O king, the Pandavas and Ghatotkacha the son of Hidimba, filled with anxiety, began to sped sharp shafts at Alambusha from all sides. Wounded sore in battle by the Pandavas desirous of securing victory, Alambusha.

Mortal as he was, knew not what to do. Thereat that foremost combatant, the highly powerful son of Bhimasena.

Beholding him in that state, resolved to slay him. Then he rushed with great vehemence upon the car of that foremost of the Rakshasas (Alambusha).

Car that resembled in effulgence the summit of a burning hill or a broken heap of antimony. Burning with rage, Hidimba's son flew for his own chariot to that of his adversary and seized the latter.

He then took the latter up from his chariot like Garuda taking up a snake. Then dragging him up with his arrows and whirling him again and again.

Ghatotkacha dashed him against the earth like a man dashing a earthen jar full of water against a stone. Endued with mighty and agility and possessed of prowess.

The son of Bhimasena inflamed with rage, began to frighten all your troops. With all his limbs crushed, his bones broken and appearing dreadful.

And slain by the heroic Ghatotkacha the Rakshasa Alambusha looked like a Sala tree broken and uprooted by the wind. Upon the slaughter of that ranger ranger of the night (Alambusha), the Parthas, filled with delight, Uttered loud roars and waived their garments in the air. Beholding that mighty foremost the Rakshasas slain.

And crushed like a mountain, your heroic warriors, O foremost of the Bharatas, uttered exclamations of Alas and Oh.

Filled with curiosity, people then came to seen that Rakshasa who was lying on the field like a piece of charcoal (no longer capable of burning).

That best of all beings possessed of might viz., the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, slaying Alambusha like Vasava laying Bala, uttered by loud roars.

For having achieved that most difficult feat Ghatotkacha was greatly praised by his sires and his other relatives. Indeed having felled his foe Alambusha even like an Alambusha fruit, he became filled with joy.

Then there arose among the Pandavas a mighty din produced by the blare of conchs and the whizz of various kinds of weapons. Hearing that din the Kauravas uttered equally loud shouts in reply, filling completely the earth with their resonance. For having achieved that most difficult feat Ghatotkacha was greatly praised by his sires and his other relatives. Indeed having felled his foe Alambusha even like an Alambusha fruit, he became filled with joy.

Then there arose among the Pandavas a mighty din produced by the blare of conchs and the whizz of various kinds of weapons. Hearing that din the Kauravas uttered equally loud shouts in reply, filling completely the earth with their resonance.