None: Chapter 179

The slaughter of Alayudha

संजय उवाच
son

संदृश्य समरे भीमं रक्षसा ग्रस्तमन्तिकात्। वासुदेवोऽब्रवीद् राजन् घटोत्कचमिदं वचः॥
Sanjaya said Then beholding Bhima hard pressed in battle by the Rakshasa Vasudeva's approaching Ghatotkacha said these words to him.

पश्य भीमं महाबाहो रक्षसा ग्रस्तमाहवे। पश्यतां सर्वसैन्यानां तव चैव महाद्युते॥
O mighty armed one, behold Bhima as if devoured by the Rakshasa in battle, before the eyes of all troops and before those of yours, O highly effulgent one.

॥ स कर्णं त्वं समुत्सृज्य राक्षसेन्द्रमलायुधम्। जहि क्षिप्रं महाबाहो पश्चात् कर्णं वधिष्यसि॥
Therefore for a time leaving alone Karna, do you quickly slay Alayudha that foremost of the Rakshasas, O mighty armed one, after which you shall slay Karna.”

स वार्ष्णेयवचः श्रुत्वा कर्णमुत्सृज्य वीर्यवान्। युयुधे राक्षसेन्द्रेण वकभ्रावा घटोत्कचः॥
Then hearing the words of that one of Vrishni race and leaving Karna alone for a while, the highly puissant Ghatotkacha, that brother of Vaka, fought with that prince of the Rakshasas.

तयोः सुतुमलं युद्धं बभूव निशि रक्षसोः। अलायुधस्य चैवाग्रं हैडिम्बेश्चापि भारत॥
In that night the battle, that raged between the Rakshasa Alayudha and the son of Hidimba, was fierce and confused to the extreme.

अलायुधस्य योधांश्च राक्षसान् भीमदर्शनान्। वेगेनापततः शूरान् प्रगृहीतशरासनान्॥ आत्तायुधः सुसंक्रुद्धो युयुधानो महारथः। नकुलः सहदेवश्च चिच्छिदुर्निशितैः शरैः॥
Meanwhile the mighty car-warriors Yuyudhana, Nakula and Sahadeva began to pierce with keen shafts the warriors of Alayudha, viz., those grim looking heroic Rakshasas, who, wielding there bows, were rushing impetuously against them.

सर्वांश्च समरे राजन् किरीटी क्षत्रियर्षभान्। परिचिक्षेप बीभत्सुः सर्वतः प्रकिरछरान्॥
The diadem-decked Vibhatsu, O monarch, in that battle, discharging arrows on all sides, began to overthrow many foremost of Kshatriyas.

कर्णश्च समरे राजन् व्यद्रावयत् पार्थिवान्। धृष्टद्युम्निशिखण्ड्यादीन् पञ्चालानां महारथान्॥
Similarly, O king, Karna caused many kings of fly away-including Dhristadyumna, Shikhandin and other mighty car-warriors of the Panchalas.

तान् वध्यमानान् दृष्ट्वाथ भीमो भीमपराक्रमः। अभ्ययात् त्वरित: कर्णं विशिखान् प्रकिरन् रणे॥
Beholding them thus slaughtered and wounded Bhimasena, of terrible prowess, quickly rushed against Karna shooting sharp arrows.

ततस्तेऽप्याययुर्हत्वा राक्षसान् यत्र सूतजः। नकुलः सहदेवश्च सात्यकिश्च महारथः॥
Then those warriors, viz., Nakula, Sahadeva and the mighty car-warrior, Satyaki, also came to the spot where Suta's son was, having slain many Rakshasas.

ते कर्णं योधयामासुः पञ्चाला द्रोणमेव तु। अलायुधस्तु संक्रुद्धो घटोत्कचमरिंदमम्। परिघेणातिकायेन ताड्यामास मूर्धनि॥ स तु तेन प्रहारेण भैमसेनिर्महाबलः।
These then fought with Karna and the Panchalas fought with Drona. Meanwhile. Alayudha, excited with rage, began to strike that subduer of enemies, viz., Ghatotkacha on the head with a huge bludgeon. In consequence of that stroke the highly puissant son of Bhima.

ईषन्मूर्छितमात्मानमस्तम्भयत वीर्यवान्॥ ततो दीप्ताग्निसंकाशां शतघण्टामलंकृताम्। चिक्षेप तस्मै समरे गदां काञ्चन भूषिताम्॥ सा हयांश्च रथं चास्य सारथिं च महास्वना। चूर्णयामास वेगेन विसृष्टा भीमकर्मणा॥ स भग्नहयचक्राक्षाद् विशीर्णध्वजकूबरात्। उत्पपात रथात् तूर्णं मायामास्थाय राक्षसीम्॥ स समास्थाय मायां तु ववर्ष रुधिरं बहु।
Squatted down, overwhelmed with a partial swoon. Thereafter he hurled at Alayudha a mace, looking like a blazing flame of fire, decked with a hundred bells and adorned with gold. Hurled forcibly by that one of fierce achievements, that mace crushed into pieces the horses, the driver and the loudly rattling chariots of Alayudha. Then betaking to his illusive prowess the latter then jumped down from his car of which the horses, the wheels Akshas and standard and Kurara had all been shattered. Then through his illusive powers he showered a copious downpour of blood on the field.

विद्युद्विभाजितं चासीत् तुमुलाभ्राकुलं नभः॥ ततो वज्रनिपाताश्च साशनिस्तनयित्नवः।
Then sky the appeared to be over-spread with darts, masses of clouds with flashes of lightning. A thunder storm then made its appearance accompanied by rumble of clouds and claps of thunder.

महांश्चटचटाशब्दस्तत्रासीच महाहवे॥ तां प्रेक्ष्य महतीं मायां राक्षसो राक्षसस्य च।
Loud clapping sounds were also then heard in that combat. beholding that illusion created by the Rakshasa Alayudha, the cannibal Ghatotkacha.

ऊर्ध्वमुत्पत्य हैडिम्बिस्तां मायां माययावधीत्॥ सोऽभिवीक्ष्य हतां मायां मायावी माययैव हि।
Soaring high, destroyed it by his own illusive power. Possessed of potent illusive powers Alayudha then seeing his own illusions nullified by those of his adversary.

अश्मवर्षं सुतुमलं विससर्ज घटोत्कचे॥ अश्मवर्षं स तं घोरं शरवर्षेण वीर्यवान्। दिक्षु विध्वंसयामास तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्॥ ततो नानाप्रहरणैरन्योन्यमभिवर्षताम्।
Began to pour a heavy downpour of stones on Ghatotkacha. That terrible shower of stones, the brave Ghatotkacha baffled by means of a shower of arrows. They then poured on each other diverse weapons.

आयसैः परिघैः शूलैर्गदामुसलमुद्गरैः॥ पिनाकैः करवालैश्च तोमरप्रासकम्पनैः। नाराचैर्निशितैर्भल्लैः शरैश्चकैः परश्वधैः। अयोगुडैर्भिन्दिपालैगोंशीर्षोलूखलैरपि॥
Such as iron bludgeons, lances, maces sharp clubs, mallets, tridents, sabres, spears, long and small, kampanas, keen shafts, both long and broad-headed and arrows and discuses and battle axes and Ayagudas and sharp arrows and weapons with heads like those of kine, Ulukhalas.

उत्पाटितैर्महाशाखैर्विविधैर्जगतीसहैः। शंमीपीलुकदम्बैश्च चम्पकैश्चैव भारत॥ इनुदैर्बदरीभिश्च कोविदारैश्च पुष्पितैः। पलाशैश्चारिमेदैश्च प्लक्षन्यग्रोधपिप्पलैः॥ महद्भिः समरे तस्मिन्नन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतुः। विपुलैः पर्वतायैश्च नानाधातुभिराचितैः॥
And they then struck each other tearing up many kinds of large branched trees, such as Sami, Pilu, Karira, Champaka and O Bharata, Juguda, Vadari, blossoming Kovidara, Plaksha, Arimedhas, Palasha and the Camian, the Peepul, as also with numerous crests of mountains decked with various kinds of metals.

तेषां शब्दो महानासीद् वज्राणां भिद्यतामिव। युद्धं समभवद् घोरं भैम्यलायुधयोर्नृप॥
The clash, produced by those trees and mountain crest, became as loud as the sound of the roaring thunder. Indeed the battle, that then raged between Alayudha and Bhima's son was, O monarch, fierce in the extreme.

हरीन्द्रयोर्यथा राजन् वालिसुग्रीवयोः पुरा। तौ युद्धवा विविधैोरैरायुधैर्विशिखैस्तथा। प्रगृह्य च शितौ खगावन्योन्यमभिपेततुः॥ तावन्योन्यमभिद्रुत्य केशेषु सुमहाबलौ। भुजाभ्यां पर्यगृह्णीतां महाकायौ महाबलौ॥
Like that which took place in the days of yore between the two monkey chiefs Bali and Sugriva. They wounded each other with shafts and various other kinds of weapois as also with keen-edged swords. Then those two might Rakshasas, rushing against each other, caught hold of each other by the hair.

तौ स्विन्नगात्रौ प्रस्वेदं सुनुवाते जनाधिप। रुधिरं च महाकायावतिवृष्टाविवाम्बुदौ॥
And those two huge warriors, covered with numerous wounds on their bodies and blood and perspiration trickling down, appeared beautiful like two mighty masses of clouds pouring rain.

अथाभिपत्य वेगेन समुद्धाम्य च राक्षसम्। बलेनाक्षिप्य हैडिम्बिश्चकर्तास्य शिरो महत्॥
Then rushing with great violence and whirling the Rakshasa on high and dashing him down again, Hidimba's son cut-off the large head of his adversary.

सोऽपहत्य शिरस्तस्य कुण्डलाभ्यां विभूषितम्। तदा सुतुमुल नादं ननाद सुमहाबलः॥
Then holding that had graced with a pair of ear-rings, the puissant Ghatotkacha uttered a terrific roar.

हतं दृष्ट्वा महाकायं वकज्ञातिमरिंदमम्। पञ्चालाः पाण्डवाश्चैव सिंहनादान् विनेदिरे॥
Beholding the huge-bodied brother of Vaka, that subduer of foes, slain, the Panchalas and the Pandavas uttered tremendous warcries.

ततो भेरीसहस्राणि शङ्खानामयुतानि च। अवादयन् पाण्डवेया राक्षसे निहते युधि॥
Thereupon on the fall of that Rakshasa the Pandava troops struck up thousands of drums and ten thousand conches.

अतीव सा निशा तेषां बभूव विजयावहा। विद्योतमाना विबभौ समन्ताद् दीपमालिनी॥
That night then exclusively brought victory to the Pandavas; echoing with the sound of musical instruments and illumined with torches it then appeared highly beautiful.

अलायुधस्य तु शिरो भैमसेनिर्महाबलः। दुर्योधनस्य प्रमुखे चिक्षेप गतचेतसः॥
Then the highly puissant son of Bhima threw that head of Alayudha at he face of Duryodhana who was then rendered insensible.

अथ दुर्योधनो राजा दृष्ट्वा हतमलायुधम्। बभूव परमोद्विग्नः सह सैन्येन भारत॥
Thereupon Duryodhana, beholding the heroic Alayudha slain, became filled with great anxiety together with all his troops.

तेन ह्यस्य प्रतिज्ञातं भीमसेनमहं युधि। हन्तेति स्वयमागम्य स्मरता वैरमुत्तमम्॥
Alayudha, having come to Duryodhana out of his own accord, recollecting his old enmity, has said to the latter, that he would slay Bhima.

ध्रुवं स तेन हन्तव्य इत्यमन्यत पार्थिवः। जीवितं चिरकालं हि भ्रातृणां चाप्यमन्यत॥
The Kuru king had considered the slaughter of Bhima to be certain and had considered the length of the days of his brother also to be measured.

स तं दृष्ट्वा विनिहतं भीमसेनात्मजेन वै। प्रतिज्ञा भीमसेनस्य पूर्णामेवाभ्यमन्यत॥
Then beholding that Alayudha (on whom all his hopes rested) slain by the son of Bhimasena, Duryodhana considered Bhima's vow (about the slaughter of himself and his brothers) to be already fulfilled.