राक्षसं क्रूरकर्माणं क्रूरकर्मा घटोत्कचः ॥
अलम्बुसं प्रत्युदियाद् बलं शक्र इवाहवे ॥
घटोत्कचस् तु संक्रुद्धो राक्षसं तं महाबलम् ॥
नवत्या सायकैस् तीक्ष्णैर् दारयाम् आस भारत ॥
अलम्बुसस् तु समरे भैमसेनिं महाबलम् ॥
बहुधा वारयाम् आस शरैः संनतपर्वभिः ॥
व्यभ्राजेतां ततस् तौ तु संयुगे शरविक्षतौ ॥
यथा देवासुरे युद्धे बलशक्रौ महाबलौ ॥
शिखण्डी समरे राजन् द्रौणिम् अभ्युद्ययौ बली ॥
अश्वत्थामा ततः क्रुद्धः शिखण्डिनम् अवस्थितम् ॥
नाराचेन सुतीक्ष्णेन भृशं विद्ध्वा व्यकम्पयत् ॥
शिखण्ड्य् अपि ततो राजन् द्रोणपुत्रम् अताडयत् ॥
सायकेन सुपीतेन तीक्ष्णेन निशितेन च ॥
तौ जघ्नतुस् तदान्योन्यं शरैर् बहुविधैर् मृधे ॥
भगदत्तं रणे शूरं विराटो वाहिनीपतिः ॥
अभ्ययात् त्वरितो राजंस् ततो युद्धम् अवर्तत ॥
विराटो भगदत्तेन शरवर्षेण ताडितः ॥
अभ्यवर्षत् सुसंक्रुद्धो मेघो वृष्ट्या इवाचलम् ॥
भगदत्तस् ततस् तूर्णं विराटं पृथिवीपतिम् ॥
छादयाम् आस समरे मेघः सूर्यम् इवोदितम् ॥
rākṣasaṃ krūrakarmāṇaṃ krūrakarmā ghaṭotkacaḥ ||
alambusaṃ pratyudiyād balaṃ śakra ivāhave ||
ghaṭotkacas tu saṃkruddho rākṣasaṃ taṃ mahābalam ||
navatyā sāyakais tīkṣṇair dārayām āsa bhārata ||
alambusas tu samare bhaimaseniṃ mahābalam ||
bahudhā vārayām āsa śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ ||
vyabhrājetāṃ tatas tau tu saṃyuge śaravikṣatau ||
yathā devāsure yuddhe balaśakrau mahābalau ||
śikhaṇḍī samare rājan drauṇim abhyudyayau balī ||
aśvatthāmā tataḥ kruddhaḥ śikhaṇḍinam avasthitam ||
nārācena sutīkṣṇena bhṛśaṃ viddhvā vyakampayat ||
śikhaṇḍy api tato rājan droṇaputram atāḍayat ||
sāyakena supītena tīkṣṇena niśitena ca ||
tau jaghnatus tadānyonyaṃ śarair bahuvidhair mṛdhe ||
bhagadattaṃ raṇe śūraṃ virāṭo vāhinīpatiḥ ||
abhyayāt tvarito rājaṃs tato yuddham avartata ||
virāṭo bhagadattena śaravarṣeṇa tāḍitaḥ ||
abhyavarṣat susaṃkruddho megho vṛṣṭyā ivācalam ||
bhagadattas tatas tūrṇaṃ virāṭaṃ pṛthivīpatim ||
chādayām āsa samare meghaḥ sūryam ivoditam ||
The cruel-acting Ghatotkacha went forth against Alambusa, the rakshasa of fierce deeds, as Shakra in battle goes forth against Bala. The enraged Ghatotkacha rent this mighty rakshasa with ninety sharp arrows, O Bharata. Alambusa, in turn, repeatedly held back the mighty son of Bhima with well-feathered arrows. Then both, wounded by arrows, shone forth in battle, like the mighty Bala and Shakra in the war of gods and asuras. The mighty Shikhandi, O king, went forth in battle against the son of Drona. The enraged Ashvatthama pierced the standing Shikhandin hard with an exceedingly sharp naracha and made him tremble. But Shikhandi, O king, struck the son of Drona with a fine, sharp, keen-pointed golden arrow. Then they struck one another in battle with various kinds of arrows. Virata, lord of the army, quickly advanced against the hero Bhagadatta, O king, and a battle began. Struck by Bhagadatta's shower of arrows, Virata, greatly enraged, showered him in return, as a cloud pours rain upon a mountain. Then Bhagadatta swiftly covered King Virata in battle, as a cloud covers the rising sun."
642ced2181bd · published Jul 17, 2026, 9:12:34 PM UTC
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On the field meet not only men but beings of different natures: rakshasas, heroes, kings, the sons of great warriors. Yet one law holds for all: each receives an answer measured to his own onslaught.