like a cloud pouring torrents of rain.  Drona’s son however, with his own shafts, checked that arrowy shower before it could reach him.  At that time, it seemed that another encounter was taking place in the welkin between shafts (as the combatants).  The welkin, then, during the night, shone resplendent with the sparks caused by the clash of those weapons, as if with (myriads of) flies.  Observing that his illusion was dispelled by Drona’s son, proud of his prowess in battle, Ghatotkacha, once more making himself invisible, created an illusion.  He assumed the form of a high mountain, crowded with cliffs and trees, and possessing fountains from which ceaselessly flowed spears and lances and swords and heavy clubs.  Beholding that mountain-like mass of antimony, with countless weapons falling from it, Drona’s son was not at all moved.  The latter invoked into existence the Vajra weapon.[200] The prince of mountains, then, struck with that weapon, was quickly destroyed.  Then the Rakshasa, becoming a mass of blue clouds in the firmament, decked with rainbow, began furiously to shower upon Drona’s son in that battle a downpour of stones and rocks.  Then that foremost of all persons acquainted with weapons, viz., Aswatthaman, aiming the Vayavya weapon, destroyed that blue cloud which had risen on the firmament.  Drona’s son, that foremost of men, covering then all the points of the compass with his shafts, slew a hundred thousand car-warriors.  He then beheld Ghatotkacha fearlessly coming towards him with bent bow and accompanied by a large number of Rakshasas that resembled lions or infuriated elephants of great strength, some riding on elephants, some on cars, and some on steeds.  The son of Hidimva was accompanied by those fierce followers of his, with frightful faces and heads and necks.  Those Rakshasas consisted of both Paulastyas and Yatudhanas.[201] Their prowess was equal to that of Indra himself.  They were armed with diverse kinds of weapons and were cased in diverse kinds of armour.  Of terrible visage, they swelled with rage.  Ghatotkacha came to battle, accompanied by those Rakshasas, who were, indeed, incapable of being easily defeated in battle.  Beholding them, thy son, Duryodhana, became exceedingly cheerless.  Unto him the son of Drona said, ’Wait, O Duryodhana!  Thou needst have no fear.  Stand aside with these thy heroic brothers and these lords of earth, endued with the prowess of Indra.  I will slay thy foes.  Defeat thou shalt not have.  I tell thee truly.  Meanwhile, assure thy troops.’

“Duryodhana said, ’I do not regard what thou sayest to be at all wonderful, since thy heart is large.  O son of Gautama’s daughter, thy regard for us is great.’