The battle fought by Alayudha

Sanjaya said Then beholding Alayudha of fierce deeds come to fight on their behalf, all the Kouravas, were exceedingly delighted.

So also your sons, headed by Duryodhana himself, were filled with joy like persons, desirous of crossing a sea, setting rafts, when there was no chance of getting it.

Having received Alayudha, that foremost prince of the Rakshasas, with a respectful welcome, the kings of your army considered themselves as born anew.

Meanwhile as that nocturnal battle raged between Karna and the Rakshasa-battle that, though terrible and superhuman and fierce, was yet delightful to the eye.

The Panchalas and other kings became passive spectators of it. At the same time, O king, your troops, though protected all over the field by their commanders.

As also Drona and Drona's son and Kripa and others uttered loud wails, saying All is lost. Indeed beholding on the field those terrible feats of Hidimva's son.

All your fighters were filled with anxiety; and uttering shrieks of distress they almost lost their senses. All your troops then, O king, became hopeless of Karna's life.

Then Duryodhana, beholding Karna hard pressed, summoned that foremost of the Rakshasas Alayudha and addressed him in

"Yonder is Vikartana's son Karna engaged in battle with the son of Hidimba. Behold he is achieving feats worthy of his valour and strength.

Behold there lie the royal heroic warriors slain and wounded with various weapons by the son of Bhimasena, like so many trees crushed by a huge tusked elephant.

Amongst all my kindly allies, I have allotted this (Rakshasa Ghatotkacha), with your permission as your share in battle. O hero, do you bring him down displaying your prowess.

O slayer of foes, allow not this sinful Ghatotkacha), to crush Vikartana's son through his illusive powers before you despatch him."

Thus spoken to by the king, that Rakshasa, of fierce prowess, replied to former saying "let it be so"; and then that mighty-armed one rushed against Ghatotkacha.

Thereupon, O lord, the son of Bhimasena also, bearing alone Karna for a while, began to afflict his advancing adversary with this shafts.

Then the battle, that commenced between those two enraged Rakshasa chiefs, resembled that between two infuriate elephants both desirous of consorting with the same sheelephant in her season in the woods.

Meanwhile, left alone by the Rakshasa that foremost of car-warriors viz., Karna, rushed against Bhimasena, on his car of solar effulgence.

Then disregarding the rushing Karna and beholding Ghatotkacha hard pressed by Alayudha, like a bull engaged with a lion.

That foremost of all smiters, viz., Bhimasena, rushed against the chariot of Alayudha, riding on his own car of solar effulgence and shooting showers of sharp arrows.

Then, O lord, beholding Bhimasena approach, Alayudha, leaving Ghatotkacha alone rushed against the former.

Then, O master, that slayer of Rakshasa Bhima, furiously encountering that foremost of Rakshasas, covered him and his followers with showers of arrows.

Similarly, O king, that subduer of foes namely, Alayudha, cutting off Bhima's arrows with straight going shafts of his, repeatedly covered the latter with his arrows.

On the other hand all these Rakshasas, armed with various weapons and dreadfullooking, assailed Bhimasena from all sides desirous of securing victory to your sons.

Then the highly puissant Bhimasena, wounded by those numerous Rakshasas, pierced each of them in return with five sharp arrows.

Those Rakshasas, of cruel minds, when thus engaged with Bhima, began to utter loud roared and to run in all the ten directions of the compass.

The mighty Rakshasa, then beholding the troops belonging to him fly away from fear of Bhima, rushed furiously upon the latter and covered him with arrows.

In that battle Bhimasena then shot at Alayudha many shafts of keen points. Thereupon Alayudha, in that battle, quickly put off or caught hold of several arrows shot by Bhimasena. Then Bhima of dreadful prowess, beholding that feat of the foremost of the Rakshasas.

Hurled at him with great force a mace whose fall resembled the fall of thunder. With his own mace then Alayudha struck the burning mace of Bhima, where-upon the latter flew towards Bhima. Then the son of Kunti covered that foremost of the Rakshasas with a perfect shower of arrows.

The Rakshasa baffled even those arrows of Bhima with his own sharp arrows. Then all the Rakshasa troops of dreadful aspect.

At the command of their leader, slew all the elephants of the Pandava division. The Panchalas, the Srinjayas, the horses and the excellent elephants (of the Pandava host).

Then could find no security being afflicted severely by the Rakshasa. Beholding then the progress of that mighty and terrific battle.

The foremost of all male beings addressing Dhananjaya said these words. Behold the mighty-armed Bhima succumb to the prince of the Rakshasas.

Do you rush to his rescue, O son of Pandu and do not hesitate. Let Dhristadyumna and Uttamanjas.

Accompanied by the mighty car-warriors of Droupada's division, assail Karna. let Nakula, Şahadeva and the puissant Yuyudhana.

Exert themselves in slaughtering the other Rakshasas at your command o son of Pandu. O mighty-armed one, do you hold in check this division headed by Drona, in as much as a great panic has seized our troops now.” When Krishna had thus spoken, those foremost of car-warriors, as appointed.

Assailed Karna and the inferior Rakshasas. Then with shafts shot from full drawn bows and resembling snakes of virulent poison.

The highly puissant prince of the Rakshasas cut-off Bhima's bow. The again that mighty hero, with sharp arrows, slew Bhima's steeds and charioteer.

Even, O Bharata, before the very eyes of Bhima himself. Then deprived of his horses and charioteer Bhima, jumping down from his chariot.

Hurled a heavy and dreadful mace at the Rakshasa, uttering a fierce roar. Then as that mighty mace a fierce roar was flying towards him.

The fearful Rakshasa broke it down with his own mace and then uttered a terrible roar. The beholding that fearful and awe-inspiring feat achieved by the prince.

Bhima, filled with joy, grasped another fierce mace. Thereupon a terrible encounter raged between the Rakshasas and men.

Causing the earth to tremble repeatedly with the fall of their maces. Then again throwing aside their maces and bearing each other.

They began to strike each other with their fists emitting a sound like that of the thunder, With car wheels and axle and Akshas and Adisthanas and Upskaras.

Whatever things they could then get, with that they rushed furiously against one another shedding blood profusely and encounter each other.

They began to drag each other like two infuriate elephants. Then Hrishikesha, ever devoted to the welfare of the Pandavas, beholding the combat (between Bhima and Alayudha) urged Hidimva's son to the rescue of his father.