and then Rahu and the sun, they thus displayed a hundred different kinds of illusion, solicitous of destroying each other.  Indeed, Alamvusha and Ghatotkacha fought most wonderfully, striking each other with spiked clubs and maces and lances and mallets and axes and short clubs and mountain-cliffs.  Riding on horseback or on elephants, on foot or on car, those foremost of Rakshasas, both endued with large powers of illusion, fought with each other in battle.  Then Ghatotkacha, O king, desiring to slay Alamvusha, roared aloft in rage and then alighted with great quickness like a hawk.  Seizing then that gigantic prince of Rakshasas, viz., Alamvusha, who thus struggled with him, he pressed him down on the earth, like Vishnu slaying (the Asura) Maya in battle.  Taking a scimitar of wonderful appearance, Ghatotkacha, of immeasurable prowess, then cut off from his trunk, O king, his fierce and mighty foe’s terrible head that was still uttering awful roars.  Seizing that blood-dyed head by the hair, Ghatotkacha quickly proceeded towards Duryodhana’s car.  Approaching (the Kuru king), the mighty-armed Rakshasa, smiling the while, threw upon Duryodhana’s car that head with frightful face and hair.  Uttering then a fierce roar, deep as that of the clouds in the season of rains, he addressed Duryodhana, O king, and said, ’This thy ally is now slain, he, that is, whose prowess thou hadst beheld!  Thou shalt see the slaughter of Karna again, and then thy own.  One that is observant of these three, viz., morality, profit and pleasure, should never see with empty hands a king, a Brahmana, or a woman.[230] Live cheerfully till that time when I slay Karna.’  Having said these words, he then, O king, proceeded towards Karna, shooting hundreds of keen arrows upon the head of Karna.  The battle then that took place between that human warrior and that Rakshasa, was fierce and terrible, O king, and exceedingly wonderful.’”

SECTION CLXXV

“Dhritarashtra said, ’How, indeed, did that battle take place when at dead of night Vikartana’s son, Karna, and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha encountered each other?  What aspect did that fierce Rakshasa then present?  What kind of car did he ride, and what was the nature of his steeds and what of his weapons?  What was the size of his steeds, of the standard of his car, and of his bow?  What was the kind of armour he wore, and what head-gear had he on?  Asked by me, describe all this, for thou art skilled in narration, O Sanjaya!’

“Sanjaya said, ’Of blood-red eyes, Ghatotkacha was of gigantic form.  His face was of the hue of copper.  His belly was low and sunken.  The bristles on his body all pointed upwards.  His head was green.  His ears were like arrows.  His cheek-bones were high.  His mouth was large, extending from ear to ear.  His teeth were keen, and four of these were high and pointed.  His tongue and lips were very long and of a coppery hue.