Ghatotkacha-Vadha Parva — The charge of Ghatotkacha against Karna

Sanjaya said Then that slayer of foes viz., Karna beholding Prisata's son in battle, pierced the him on the breast with ten arrows capable of penetrating to the vitals.

In return Dhristadyumna quickly pierced, in that battle, Karna, with five arrows and challenged him saying 'stay, stay.'

In that dreadful battle, they both covering each other with their arrowy showers, pierced each other with shafts shot from fully-stretched bows.

Thereafter Karna dispatched the four steeds and charioteer of Dhristadyumna that foremost of the Panchalas, to the dreary abode of Death.

He cut-off with sharp arrows the latter's excellent bow and then with a bhalla felled his charioteer from the niche on the car.

The puissant Dhristadyumna deprived of the use of his car and having his charioteer and his horses slain, quickly jumped down on the ground armed with a terrible mace.

Then through inangled with arrows of depressed knots shot by Karna, he still approached the former's chariot and slew the steeds thereof with the strokes of his mace.

Then quickly wheeling back, that slayer of hostile heroes viz., Prisata's son, that foremost of all car-warriors, ascended the chariot of Dhananjaya.

Then though desirous of encountering Karna once more, he was prevented from doing so by the son of Dharma. Then the highly puissant Karna created a loud din by means of his bow, which became mingled with his warcries. He then blew his conch furiously. Beholding Prisata's son vanquished in battle, those mighty car-warriors.

The Panchalas and the Somakas influenced by wrath, grasped their weapons with a view to compass the death of Suta's son.

They then rushed against Karna, making death their final goal. Meanwhile Karna's

Steeds that were of the hue of conch shells, endued with great fleetness, of the Sindhu breed and well-broken. Then the son of Radha getting the mighty warriors of the Panchalas within his range.

Began to afflict them with his arrowy showers, like masses of clouds afflicting the mountain breast with torrents of rain. Afflicted sore by Karna, the division of the Panchalas.

Panic-struck,. began to break and fly away like a herd of deer attacked by a lion. O ruler of earth, then warriors were seen to fall down on the ground from their steeds or elephants or chariots, on all sides. In that fierce battle Karna cut-off with razor-headed arrows the arms and heads decked with ear-ring of warriors that were flying away. O ruler of men, he cut-off the thighs of other warriors riding on elephants.

Or on the backs of steeds or of those standing on the ground. O sire, many mighty car-warriors in the confusion of their flight perceived no.

Their own limbs cut-off or the injuries of their animals. The Panchalas and the Srinjayas then slaughtered with dreadful arrows.

Took even the motion of a straw for Karna. Greatly confounded; the combatants mistook their flying friends for Karna and then fled from them in great fright. Then, O Bharata, as those broken and routed divisions were flying away.

Karna pursued them from behind shooting his arrows in all directions. Those warriors as they were madly flying, were carnaged by thousands, in that battle.

Afflicted by that illustrious warrior Karna, they could not then stay on the field. O king, the Panchalas then mangled with excellent shafts by Karna.

As also by Drona, looked vacantly at the different quarters and then fled away. Thereupon king Yudhishthira, beholding his own army routed.

And considering a retreat to be addressed Arjuna thus;-'Behold the mighty car-warriors Karna standard yonder armed with his bow.

Like a burning sun shining even during the hideous hour of night. The yells of your own partisans helplessly mangled by the shafts of Karna are being incessantly heard. Karna does shoot his arrows so skillfully that no interval can be noticed between his fixing the arrow on the string and letting it off. He will surely fighting thus, extirpate all our friends. Do that now, O Dhananjaya, for compassing the slaughter of Karna, which according to your judgment should be done and for which the hour may have come." Being thus spoken to, Arjuna addressing Krishna said

“The royal son Dharma has been frightened today at the prowess of Karna. As Karna's division is repeatedly worsting that of our own, do your quickly make some arrangement that will cope with the present dangerous situation. Behold, yonder are our troops flying away. O slayer of Madhu, broken and mangled with the shafts of Drona.

And frightened by Karna, they have no stay or support. I see that Karna is careering dauntlessly on the field.

Crushing numerous illustrious car-warriors and covering them with his sharp shafts I cannot brook the sight of him careering in thick of the fight.

Under my very nose, foremost of the Vrishnis, even as a snake cannot bear the tread of human feet. So, do you take me there where the mighty Karna is fighting. Oslayer of Madhu, either I will slay him or he shall slay me.

Vasudeva said I see, O son of Kunti, that foremost of men, of super-human prowess, viz.., Karna, careering at the head of battle like the king of the celestials himself.

O Dhananjaya, there is none, save yourself and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha who can encounter him in battle, O foremost of men.

O sinless one, I do not think that the hour has come when, O mighty armed one, you should meet the son of Suta in battle.

The resplendent Sakti, resembling a mighty meteor, obtained by him from Vasava is still in his possession, o mighty armed one, kept carefully to be used against yourself by this son Suta.

He preserves that Sakti; and therefore he has now assumed a terrible aspect. Ghatotkacha, is ever attached to your interests and is anxious for your welfare.

Therefore let the mighty Ghatotkacha charge the son of Radha. That one of prowess resembling that of an immortal, was begotten by Bhima and he is conversant with numerous celestial, Asuri and Rakshasa-weapons. I am sure, he will conquer Karna in battle.

Sanjaya said Thus spoken to the mighty-armed Partha possessed of eyes resembling lotus petals, summoned the Rakshasa. Thereupon the Rakshasa appeared before him.

Cased in armour and armed with bows arrows and a sword, O ruler of men. Then doing obeisance to Krishna and Pandu's son Dhananjaya.

He proudly said-"Here am I order me.” Thereupon the descendant of the Dasarha race Krishna, addressing Hidimva's son of the complexion of clouds, of effulgent countenance and fiery eyes smilingly said these words.

Vasudeva said Take my blessings, O Ghatotkacha, hear attentively what I now say to you. The hour for the display of your prowess and of no one else has now arrived.

Do you become the raft in this battle to the sinking Pandavas. You possess weapons of various kinds and the potent Rakshasi illusion.

Behold, O son of Hidimba, the hosts of the Pandavas afflicted by Karna in battle like a herd of kine belaboured by the keeper.

Yonder does the mighty bowman Karna of great intelligence and resolute prowess, burn the foremost of the Kshatriyas of the Pandava host.

Scorched with his fiery arrows the Pandava warrior cannot stand before that resolute bowman who is shooting numerous arrows.

Afflicted at the dead of night with showers of arrows shot by the son of Suta, yonder are the Panchalas flying away like a flock of deer attacked by the lion.

Save yourself, O you of dreadful prowess, no one else is none who can confront Suta's son in battle thus engaged.

Therefore, O mighty-armed one, do you now perform what will be worthy of yourself, your maternal uncles, your sires and the measure of your energy and might.

It is for saving them from difficulties, that men desire to have sons; O son of Hidimba, do you therefore, rescue your fathers and friends.

O Ghatotkacha, fathers desire to have sons, for furthering their own interests. And goc sons save their fathers here and hereafter.

You are generous and your strength in battle is indeed terrible and matchless. While engaged in battle, there is none else equal to you.

O afflicter of your foes, do you become the raft for the Pandavas when they are being routed in this hour of night by the shafts of Karna and when they are sinking in the ocean identified with the Dhartarashtra troops.

Moreover, at night the Rakshasas become possessed of immeasurable prowess; the Rakshasas are by nature powerful, indomitable, heroic and energetic in battle.

With the help of your illusions do you kill the fierce bowman Karna in this nocturnal fight. The of Pritha headed by Dhristadyumna will slay Drona in battle.

Sanjaya said Hearing the words of Kesava, Vibhatsu also addressing that Rakshasa, that slayer of foes viz., Ghatotkacha said, O foremost of the Kurus, these words.

0 Ghatotkacha, yourself, the long-armed Satyaki and the Pandava Bhimasena, these, according to my opinion, are the foremost among all our troops.

In this nocturnal fight do you therefore sons warrior Satyaki will become your protect or from behind.

Supported by the Satvata hero, do you slay the heroic Karna in battle, even as Indra supported by Skanda slew Taraka in days gone by.”

Ghatotkacha said I am capable of encountering Karna and Drona, O Bharata and I am a match for all the other high-souled Kshatriyas accomplished in the use of weapons.

This night, I shall fight such a fierce battle with the son of Suta, of which men will talk as long as the earth will exit.

Following the Rakshasa mode, I shall not spare this time any body, either the brave or the coward or those that will with folded palms, solicit mercy. I shall slay all folded palms, solicit mercy. I shall slay all.

Sanjaya said Having thus spoken, that slayer of hostile heroes namely the mighty-armed son of Hidimba, dashed against Karna, in that fierce fight, frightening your troops.

Then that foremost of men that son of Suta smilingly received Ghatotkacha of blazing countenance and burning locks, as the latter was furiously falling upon him.

Then the battle between those two roaring heroes, viz., Karna and that Rakshasa, commenced resembling O foremost of kings that between Shakra and Pralhada in days gone by.