Ghatotkacha, holding a mighty trident in his hand, broke violently into the Kaurava forces. The flashing brilliance of his weapon shone like repeated strokes of lightning, striking terror into the hearts of the Kuru warriors and robbing them of their confidence. With dreadful ferocity, he stabbed soldiers, horses, and elephants, lifting them upon his trident as though they were a dreadful garland of living beings. Witnessing this terrible spectacle, Duryodhana clearly perceived the savage power of the demon warrior.
Endowed with natural and irresistible strength, Ghatotkacha advanced toward Duryodhana like a wild elephant rushing recklessly through the forest. At that moment the king of Vanga, proud of his immense power, confronted the demon warrior with a vast herd of well-trained elephants. Beholding the approaching herd, Ghatotkacha rushed upon them with terrible force. With the blows of his mighty fists he crushed the elephants, reducing their great bodies to shapeless masses. Moving across the battlefield like the very Lord of Death, he shook the field of war while the gods themselves looked on in astonished admiration.
The tusks, legs, trunks, and heads of the slain elephants fell upon the earth in heaps resembling scattered masses of clouds. Great herds of elephants were shattered by him as though they were mere toys in the hands of a child. Filled with burning rage, Duryodhana then released a fierce shower of arrows against Ghatotkacha. His fury knew no bounds, and in that terrible assault, he slew three demons—Vidyutjihva, Vegavantha, and Bahvasi. Piercing the body of Ghatotkacha with many arrows, he greatly provoked the wrath of the mighty Rakshasa.
Trembling with anger and blazing with the fire of vengeance, Ghatotkacha grasped his bow and spoke aloud, “O Duryodhana, in your assembly, you insulted justice and truth, which are the two eyes of the Pandavas. Those very elders who witnessed that shameful act are now present on this battlefield. Before their eyes, I shall deliver to you the fruits of the injustice you committed against the sons of Pandu.” Having uttered this terrible warning, he released serpent-like arrows that struck Duryodhana and caused him to bleed painfully.
Sanjaya then said, “O King Dhritarashtra, your son did not retreat even a single step under the attack of his enemy. Without abandoning his anger or hostility, he continued to strike Ghatotkacha with countless arrows.” In the midst of his raging fury, Ghatotkacha lifted a powerful Shakti weapon to hurl at Duryodhana. At that moment, the king of Vanga intervened, but his elephant was struck down and fell to the ground. The king leapt to the earth and continued the battle with his forces.
Duryodhana, driven by a surge of fierce determination, fought the demon warrior with relentless courage. A terrible demonic weapon blazing with fire was hurled into the sky, but it was shattered in midair. Roaring like a pride of lions, the warriors clashed with dreadful sounds that echoed across the battlefield. Hearing the tumult and seeing kings and warriors thrown into confusion, Bhishma spoke to the Kaurava heroes, saying, “Ghatotkacha is fierce and filled with terrible excitement. Having destroyed great herds of elephants, he now rushes upon Duryodhana like a raging tempest. Neither gods nor demons can easily conquer him. Therefore, go swiftly and support Duryodhana in battle.”
Obeying the command of the great commander, warriors such as Drona, Kripa, Ashwatthama, Chitrasena, Bruhadbala, Bahlika, the king of Avanti, Bhurisrava, the Saindhava ruler, Somadatta, Vivimsati, and Vikarna advanced with their vast fourfold armies. They surrounded Duryodhana on every side to shield him from danger and confronted the terrible demon warrior. Ghatotkacha too stood blazing like a raging fire, supported by his demonic followers, and fought fiercely against the Kaurava heroes.
The battle between them resembled the collision of mighty mountains. Ghatotkacha released many sharp and dreadful arrows against Drona and the other principal warriors, including Kripacharya. Kripa, the son of the sage Sharadwantha of the lineage of Gautama, had been raised with kindness by King Shantanu, the father of Bhishma, and therefore came to be known as Kripacharya. He was destined to be immortal. Ashwatthama, the son of Dronacharya, had neighed like a horse at the moment of his birth and therefore received his name. He too was destined to live immortal.
Such mighty warriors now surrounded Ghatotkacha. Sanjaya continued his narration, saying, “O King Dhritarashtra, while fighting against Drona and the other heroes, the demon warrior slew many charioteers. Horses and elephants fell dead, and many bows were shattered in the intensity of the combat. Ghatotkacha broke through the Kaurava ranks, piercing and tormenting them with relentless fury.” Drona, together with twelve great Maharathis, surrounded him and released blazing arrows that fell like a storm of fire.
Severely wounded in that ferocious assault and unable to endure the combined attack of the Kaurava chiefs, Ghatotkacha suddenly rose high into the sky. Moving through the heavens and roaring like thunderclouds, he spread terror among the Kaurava ranks. Observing the dangerous situation, King Yudhishthira spoke to Bhimasena, saying that the Panchala forces must be protected from Bhishma and that Ghatotkacha must be rescued from the assault of Drona and his supporting warriors. He declared that Arjuna would guard the Panchala army, while Bhima must hasten to aid Ghatotkacha.
Hearing these words, Bhimasena rushed upon the Kaurava army like a roaring lion. The battlefield whirled in confusion under the force of his assault. Duryodhana, however, struck Bhima with a half-moon-shaped arrow, breaking his bow, and then shot a powerful shaft that pierced Bhima’s chest. Struck by that terrible blow, Bhima sank into his chariot and lost consciousness for a brief moment.
Seeing Bhima weakened, the sons of Draupadi charged against the Kaurava forces with great fury. Abhimanyu and Ghatotkacha soon joined them, and together they burst violently into the Kaurava ranks. Sanjaya reported to Dhritarashtra that the grandsons of Pandu were advancing like rolling mountains, crushing all who attempted to resist them. The young princes of the Pandava line fought unitedly, while warriors such as Kripa and Bahlika engaged them in a fierce and terrible battle.
Meanwhile, Bhimasena regained his composure and, filled with renewed fury, struck Drona with powerful blows that drenched the preceptor in blood and caused him to faint upon his chariot. Ashwatthama and Duryodhana rushed forward to confront Bhima, but the mighty Pandava hero leapt down from his chariot, holding his enormous mace in his hands and caring little for their attacks. Drona soon recovered his senses, and Kripa, together with other warriors, showered arrows upon Bhimasena.
At the same time, Ghatotkacha, Abhimanyu, and the sons of Draupadi released a storm of arrows against Duryodhana and Ashwatthama, shaking their courage and breaking the strength of their resistance. Thus, the battle, filled with immense power, strength, and ferocity, raged on with equal intensity on both sides, each army striving with relentless determination for victory upon the dreadful field of Kurukshetra.
