Ghatotkacha-Vadha Parva — The combat between Karna and Ghatotkacha

Dhritarashtra said How did that battle between Vikartarna's son Kama and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha rage at that dead of night when they encountered each other?

What appearance did that terrible Rakshasa then assume? How looked his car and his steeds and what was the nature of his weapons?

What was the measure of his horses, his standard and his bow? What kind of armour and head-gear did he then wear? O Sanjaya, expert as you are in the art of narration, tell me all this as I am asking you about them.

Sanjaya said Ghatotkacha was of gigantic proportion; his eyes were crimson; the hue of his countenance was coppery; his belly was low and sunk. The hair on his body were erect, his head was green; his ears were straight like shafts; and his check bones were high.

His mouth was large, extending from ear to ear. His teeth were sharp and four of them were long and pointed. His tongue and his lips were long and of a coppery hue. His brows were long drawn. His nose was thick.

His body was of blue complexion, his neck was red. Tall as a mountain he was frightful to look at; of huge stature huge arms and huge head, he possessed unequaled strength.

His limbs were hard and ugly, the hair on his head was tied in a ugly shape upwards. His hips were spacious and his navel was deep. His proportion were gigantic although they were not so strong.

His arms were duly adorned and that one of potent illusive energy wore Angadas and a cuirass on his breast like a circle of fire on the breast of a mountain.

A bright and beautiful diadem made of gold adorned his head-diadem of which every part was proportionate and resplendent and which looked like an arch.

His ear-rings were effulgent like the morning sun and his garlands were of gold and exceedingly bright. His body was cased in a massive brazen armour of great effulgence.

His chariot of gigantic size and of the measure of a Nalva and covered with bear-skin was adorned with a hundred tinkling bells and from its standard fluttered numerous crimson banners.

It was well furnished with all sorts of weapons, offensive and defensive and was decked with a festoon of bannerets. It possessed eight wheels and its clatter resembled the deep rumble of rain-clouds.

The horses yoked thereto were stout mettled, of chequered complexion, fleet, of red eyed and like infuriate elephants.

Those indefatigable and spirited steeds bore the dreadful Rakshasa to battle, neighing and throwing back their thick mains repeatedly.

A Rakshasa of frightful eyes and decked with bright ear-rings and possessing a fierce mouth acted as his charioteer, checking the horses by the rains that were as bright as the rays of the sun.

Accompanied by that charioteer he came like the sun accompanied by his charioteer Arjuna (dawn). Looking like a high mountain enveloped in cloudy masses.

A huge standard, touching the very clouds was set upon his chariot. A dreadful vulture of crimson body and flash-eating was the device on his standards.

The Rakshasa then advanced, forcibly stretching his bow of which the twang resembled the rattle of Indra's thunder and the string was very though and which measured twelve Aranis in length and one in breadth

Filling all the quarters of the heaven with arrows of the measures of the Aksha of a car, the Rakshasa assailed Karna in that night that witnessed the destruction of so many heroes.

Proudly seated on his car, as he stretched his bow, the twang that was heard resembled the rumble of the roaring thunder.

Frightened at that sound, your troops O Bharata, trembled like the surging billows of the sea.

Beholding that one of frightful eyes and dreadful aspect rush towards himself, the son of Radha quickly withstood him in all cheerfulness.

Karna then advanced against the smiting Rakshasa smiting him in return from a near point, like an elephant rushing against another or a bull charging another.

Then the dreadful collision, o mighty monarch, that took place between Karna and the Rakshasa, resembled ( ruler of men that between Shakra and Samvara (in days gone by).

Each then grasping a fearful bow of loud twang began to wound and cover the other with mighty shafts.

Then penetrating each other's brazen armours, they pierced each other with shafts of depressed knots, shot from bows drawn to the fullest stretch.

Then like two tigers mangling each other with claws or two elephants with their tusks, they mangled each other with their lances and arrows and javelins.

Mangling each other's body, aiming their shafts at each other and burning each other with myriads of shafts, they could not be gazed at.

Covered with arrow-wounds all over the body and steeped in torrents of blood, they both looked beautiful like two hills of red chalk with rivulets flowing down their sides.

Those two mighty car-warriors, though they were striving hard and each had his limbs torn open with points of shafts, could not make each other flinch or tremble.

That nocturnal combat between Karna and the Rakshasa, with both regarded as a game having their lives for the stake, seemed for a long time to be a equal one.

As Ghatotkacha placed keen shafts on his string and as he let them off, his foes and friends alike became terrified with the twang of his bow.

Then, O king, Karna was unable to gain any advantage over Ghatotkacha. Thereafter that foremost of all persons versed in the use of weapons, invoked into existence a celestial weapon.

Thereupon the king of the Rakshasas beholding a celestial weapon aimed at him, by Karna, brought into use his Rakshasa illusion.

Instantly he was encircled by a numerous force of dreadful looking Rakshasas armed with lances and large rocks and stones and clubs.

Beholding the Rakshasa come with an uplifted weapon like the Destroyer of beings armed with his fatal bludgeon, all the kings of your host were filled with terror.

Frightened at the war-cries uttered by Ghatotkacha the elephants discharged urine and men were sorely afflicted.

Then a mighty shower of rocks and stones fell on all sides, being poured incessantly by the Rakshasas, who had acquired greater strength, in consequence of the hour being mid-night.

Iron wheels, Bhusundis, javelins, lances and spears and Shataghnis and battle axes, then began to fall in torrents.

Then beholding that battle fierce to the extreme, your son and your warriors sorely afflicted (with terror) took to their heels.

The proud Karna alone, ever boastful of strength of his weapons, was not terrified and he continued to stay on the field, baffling with his arrows the illusions displayed by Ghatotkacha. Ghatotkacha then discharged dreadful arrows for compassing the death of Suta's son.

Then those arrows piercing through Karna and steeped in blood entered the earth like so many infuriate snakes.

Thereupon the light-handed and puissant son of Suta excited to the highest pitch of fury, prevailing over Ghatotkacha, pierced him with ten shafts.

Pierced in his vital parts and extremely pained by the son of Suta, Ghatotkacha took up a discus of celestial make having a thousands pokes.

Then the son of Bhima, desirous of slaying the son of Adhiratha, hurled at the latter that discus furnished with a razor-sharp edge, of the effulgence of the morning sun and decked with gems and jewels.

That discus of great impetus and hurled with great force, was cut-off into fragments with the shafts of Karna and it fell down on the earth baffled in its object, like the hopes and purposes of an unfortunate man.

Beholding his discus thus baffled, Ghatotkacha was highly enraged and he then covered Karna with his arrows like Rahu covering the sun.

But the son of Suta Karna possessed prowess equal to that of Rudra or Upendra or Indra himself dauntlessly covered Ghatotkacha's chariot with his winged arrows.

Thereafter a gold-decked mace was whirled and hurled at Karna by Ghatotkacha. But the former cutting it off with his arrows felled it on the ground.

Then soaring into the sky and roaring like destructive clouds, the huge-bodied Rakshasa poured a veritable shower of trees from the skies.

Then Karna pierced with his shafts the son of Bhimasena versed in illusion when he was ranging through the skies, like the sun piercing the clouds with his rays.

Next cutting his car into fragments and slaying all his horses, Karna covered him with arrows, like a cloud charged with rain.

There was not even space of two finger's breadth in the body of Ghatotkacha that was not pierced with Karna's shafts. Soon the Rakshasa appeared to be like a porcupine with its quills erect.

So completely was he covered with shafts that we could not in that battle, any longer see either Ghatotkacha's person or his horses or his car or standard.

Then the Rakshasa versed in illusion destroying by his own weapon the celestial weapon of Karna, began to fight with Suta's son, aided by his own illusive powers.

Indeed he fought on with Karna, aided by his illusive powers and exhibiting his great agility. Then showers of shafts began to fall from invisible quarters in the skies.

Then Bhimasena's son possessed of potent powers of illusion, O best of the Kurus, assumed, by the help of those powers, a dreadful appearance and began to confound the Kouravas, O Bharata.

The puissant Rakshasa then assuming many terrible heads, began to swallow up the celestial weapons of Karna.

Soon again, the huge Rakshasas with hundred of wounds on his body seemed to lie cheerlessly and like one dead, on the field.

The foremost of the Kouravas then considering Ghatotkacha to be dead uttered loud joyous shouts. Soon however, he was seen to assume new forms and roving in all direction.

Next he was seen to assume a huge form with a hundred heads and hundred stomachs and looked like the Mainaka mountain.

Once again he became small about the transversely or soared high like the surging billows of the ocean.

Tearing through the earth, he dived again into the waters. Once seen here he was next seen rising on the surface at a different place.

Then coming down from the welkin, he was seen standing, covered in mail, on a chariot adorned with gold, having wandered through earth and sky and all the points of the compass aided by his powers of illusion.

Then going near the vicinity of Karna's chariot, Ghatotkacha with his his ear-rings moving, dauntlessly addressed the son of Suta, O king, in these words.

Wait a little, O son of Suta, whither shall you go with your life, avoiding me? Today I shall remove your itching for fight on the field of battle.

Having thus spoken, the Rakshasa of fierce prowess, with his eyes red in rage, soared into the sky and laughed a tremendous laugh.

Then Ghatotkacha assailed Karna like a lion attacking an elephant; and he then covered with his showers of arrows of the measure of the Aksha of a car.

That foremost car-warrior viz., Karna, like a could with showers of rain. But Karna repulsed that arrowy shower before it could reach him.

Then, O foremost of the Bharatas, seeing his illusions nullified by Karna, Ghatotkacha once more put forth another illusion and rendered himself invisible.

He then became a huge mountain with numerous peaks, covered with tall trees. From that mountain streams of lances, spears, swords and maces began to issue out incessantly.

Beholding that mountain resembling a heap of antimony from which fierce weapons continuously flowed out, Karna was not at all daunted.

Then smiling, Karna invoked into existence a celestial weapon. Then that foremost of mountains, cut and thrown off by that weapons of Karna, was completely destroyed.

Thereafter the Rakshasa becoming a blue cloud decked with the rain-bow began to cover the son of Suta with a fierce shower of stones.

Then that foremost of all persons versed in the use of weapons, viz., Karna, the son of Vikartana, discharging the Vayavya weapon destroyed that blue cloud.

Then, O king, covered the quarters of the compass with his arrows, Karna baffled the weapons shot by Ghatotkacha.

Then the highly puissant son of Bhimasena smiling the while invoked into existence an allpowerful illusion against that mighty carwarrior viz., Karna.

Beholding then that foremost of carwarriors viz., Ghatotkacha, dauntlessly approach him surrounded by a large number of Rakshasa.

That resembled lion and tigers and infuriate powerful elephants, mounted on elephants, some on chariots and some on horses.

All bearing various kinds of weapons and wearing diverse kinds of armour and ornaments indeed beholding Ghatotkacha surrounded by these fearful Rakshasas like Vasava by the Marutas.

The mighty bowman Karna began to fight with him fiercely. Then Ghatotkacha piercing Karna with five arrows.

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Uttered a tremendous war-cry, filling all the kings with terror. Once more with an Anjalika, Ghatotkacha quickly cut-off the bow of Karna held in his hands together with the arrows fitted thereon. Thereupon Karna taking up another mighty bow capable of bearing a greater strain and looking like the bow of Indra itself, began to stretch it forcibly; thereafter, O king, Karna sped arrows.

Furnished with golden wings, capable of slaying foes and ranging through the welkin at those Rakshasas. Afflicted with those shafts that host of broad-chested Rakshasas.

Appeared agitated like a host of wild elephants attacked by a lion. Burning with his arrows the Rakshasas and their horses, charioteer and elephant, O lord.

The heroic Karna appeared like the god of fire burning down creatures at the end of a Yuga. Slaying that Rakshasa host, the son of Suta appeared beautiful.

Like the god Maheshvara after he had destroyed Tripura in the days of yore. Among the thousands of king belonging to the Pandavas, O sire.

There was none who could then even look at Karna. O ruler of men, except the powerful Ghatotkacha, that foremost of Rakshasas who was possessed of terrible energy and mighty and who burning with wrath, then looked like the himself. Excited as he was with wrath flames of fire seemed to issue out of his eyes, like burning drops of oil from a pair of flambeaus; then striking his palms against each other and biting his nether lip.

The Rakshasa was seen to ride a car the creation of his own illusion to which were yoked asses looking like elephants and having the heads of Pisachas.

Then excited with rages he addressed his charioteer saying, “Take me near the son of Suta.” Then that foremost of car-warriors riding on that chariot of fearful aspect.

An Asani of dreadful appearance furnished with eight wheels and manufactured by Rudra himself. Placing his bow on his car and jumping down on the earth.

And hurled it back at Ghatotkacha. The latter however had jumped down from his car. Meanwhile that highly resplendent weapon burning down the Rakshasa's car with its charioteer, horses and standard.

Entered the earth, piercing through her bowels, thereby filling the gods with wonder. Then all creatures applauded Karna.

Inasmuch as he succeeded in grasping the Asani of celestial make, having jumped down from his car. Having achieved this feat, Karna again ascended his car.

Thereafter that afflicter of foes, namely the son of Suta began to shoot his arrows. O giver of honour what Karna then achieved in that battle of fierce aspect was incapable of being achieved by any other creatures. Then struck with his Narachas like a mountain by showers of rain.

Ghatotkacha of aerial from once more disappeared from the view. Fighting in this way, the huge Rakshasa, the slayer of foes, destroyed the celestial weapons of Karna, by means of high agility and illusive powers. Thus although his weapons were destroyed by the illusive powers of that Rakshasa.

Karna dauntlessly fought on with him. Thereupon the highly puissant son of Bhima, O king, being worked up with rage.

Multiplied himself many times thereby inspiring terror in to the hearts of mighty carwarriors. Thereafter from all the points of the compass lions, tigers, hyenas, fire-tongued snakes and iron-beaked rangers of the sky, began to issue out. Covered with the swiftlyflying arrows shot from Karna's bow.

That gigantic Rakshasa looking like the prince of mountains, disappeared then and there. Then numerous Rakshasas, Pisachas, Yatudhanas and.

Peaks of wolves and leopards of frightful aspects, rushed upon Karna for devouring him.

These then tried to frighten Karna by their fierce yells. With many dreadful weapons ready for use and steeped in blood.

Karna pierced each of those monsters. Then with a celestial weapons baffling that illusion of the Rakshasa,

He wounded the former's fierce steeds with arrows of depressed knots. Those steeds thus maimed and deprived of their limbs and with their backs lacerated with Karna's arrows.

Fell down on the earth, even before the eyes of that Rakshasa. The son of Hidimba seeing his illusions baffled once more made himself invincible, speaking thus to Vikartana's son-"I will presently compass your slaughter."