अलम्बुषको वध

Sanjaya said Then, O monarch, beholding the mightyarmed Ghatotkacha, rush against the car of Suta's son Karna, with a view to slaughter him,

Your Duryodhana addressing Dushasana said these works "Beholding Karna's prowess in battle, yonder does the Rakshasa

Rush against that mighty car-warrior, Do you check the Rakshasa's progress; supported by mighty divisions do you go to the spot where the highly powerful.

Karna the son of Vikartana is fighting with the Rakshasa. O bestower of honor, putting forth your best energies in battle and supported by the troops do you protect Karna in battle.

Let not the dreadful Rakshasa succeed, through our negligence, in slaying Karna. Meanwhile, O monarch, the highly puissant son of Jatasura.

That best of smiters, approaching Duryodhana said these words-"O Duryodhana, with your permission, do I intend to slay the Pandava brothers and their followers who are your inveterate enemies and who are regarded as indomitable in battle. My father was Jatasura that foremost of the Rakshasas, endued with great prowess.

In days gone by, through some Rakshasaslaying charms, the puny sons of Pritha slew him. I now desire to render satisfaction to his departed spirit by worshipping him with the blood of his foes.

As also with their flesh. O foremost of kings, it behoves you to accord me your permission.” Thereupon king Duryodhana, highly gratified, repeatedly told these words to

“Supported by Drona and Karna and others, I am competent enough to conquer my enemies. With my leave, do you go and slay the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha.

That Rakshasa of fierce feats, born of men, ever devoted to the interests of the Pandavas and always slaying our elephants, horses and charioteer in battle.

Staying himself all the while in the firmament, go dispatch him to Yama's (dreary) place.” Then that huge-bodied son of Jatasura saying “yea' to his words, challenged Ghatotkacha.

Thereafter the son of Jatasura covered the son of Bhimasena with various kind of weapons. But the son of Hidimba, singlehanded, crushed Alambusha, Karna and the unfordable ocean of Kuru soldiers, like a furious tempest agitating the clouds. Thereafter the Rakshasa Alambusha seeing the potency of the illusion of Ghatotkacha.

Quickly covered him with myriads of shafts. Piercing the son of Bhimasena with numerous arrows, Alambusha.

With his arrows, caused the Pandava armies to be routed. Routed by him the Pandavas troops, O Bharata.

Began to disperse in that night, like masses of clouds torn away by a furious gale. Similarly your troops mangled with the arrows of Ghatotkacha.

Fled away in that night throwing, O monarch, all their flambeaus down. Thereafter wrought up with rage, Alambusha struck Bhima's son in that fierce battle, with numerous arrows, like a guide striking an elephant with the goad. Then Ghatotkacha cutoff into small fragments the chariot, the driver and the weapons of his opponent and laughed terrible. Then like clouds showering torrents of rain on the Meru mountain, Ghatotkacha poured showers of shafts of Karna, Alambusha and all the rest of Kurus. Afflicted by the Rakshasa, the Kuru troops became greatly agitated.

The four kinds of forces of which your army consisted, began to press and crush one another. Then the son of Jatasura deprived of his car and driver.

Wrathfully struck Ghatotkacha in that battle with his bare fists. Thus struck Ghatotkacha trembled.

Like a mountain with its trees, creepers and grass at the time of an earth-quake. Then the son of Bhimasena furious with rage, raising his own foe-slaying arm that resembled bludgeon, dealt a severe blow to Jatasura's son; thus furiously crushing him, the son of Hidimba quickly threw him down.

a And then seizing him by his two arms began to press him with great force against the earth. Then the son of Jatasura freeing himself from the grasp of Ghatotkacha.

Once more rose up quickly and rushed furiously upon the latter. Alambusha also, throwing down and dragging the Rakshasa.

Ghatotkacha, out of rage began to press him against the earth. Then between those two roaring heroes of huge proportion, namely Ghatotkacha and Alambusha, a battle raged that was extremely terrible and horripilating. Then those highly proud heroes, each desirous of getting advantage over the other by means of their illusive powers.

Fought on with great fury like the puissant Indra and the son of Virochana. Becoming fire and the ocean, again Garuda and Takshaka.

And once a cloud and a tempest and again thunder and a mighty mountain and an elephant and a tiger and Rahu and the sun.

They thus exhibited a hundred different kinds of illusions, desirous of compassing each other's destruction. Indeed Alambusha and Ghatotkacha fought most wonderfully, with bludgeons and maces and lances and mallets and battle axes and clubs and crests of mountains, they then struck each other.

Riding on the back of elephants or horses or on their chariots, those foremost of Rakshasas both possessed of potent illusive powers, fought with each other in that battle.

Thereafter, king Ghatotkacha, impelled by a desire for killing Alambusha and excited to the highest pitch of fury soared aloft and then came down even like a hawk.

Then seizing that foremost of the Rakshasas, namely, the huge-bodied Alambusha, he raised him high and then dashed him against the earth, like Vishnu dashing Maya against the ground.

Then with a sword of beautiful appearance, Ghatotkacha of infinite prowess cut-off, 0 king, from the trunk of his fierce and mighty foe, his terrible head that was even then uttering Creadful roars and that looked frightful, O mighty monarch.

Then holding that blood-stained head by the hair, Ghatotkacha quickly proceeded towards the chariot of Duryodhana.

Then the mighty-armed Rakshasa, approaching the car, smilingly threw that head with contorted aspect and dishevelied hair in that car of the king.

Then like clouds during the rainy season, he uttered a tremendous roar; and then O king,

Here is your friend slain whose prowess you have witnessed yourself. You are destined to see the death of Karna and that of your ownself.

There is a saying, O king, that no one, desirous of keeping his morality, profit and pleasure unprejudiced should never approach a king a Brahmana and a female with empty hands (i.e., without presents.)

Do you live without any anxiety whatever up to the time I do not slay Karna." Having thus spoken, O foremost of men, he rushed against Karna.

Scattering hundreds of sharp arrows and directing them at the head of Karna. Then, O mighty monarch, a battle of terrible aspect and great fierceness commenced between the human hero and the Rakshasa-battle that filled every heart with great admiration.