Sanjaya sajd When the battle between Karna and that Rakshasa had been thus progressing, Alayudha the prince of the Rakshasa, endued with great strength made his appearance of the field of battle.

Supported by a large division of troops and surrounded by thousands of Rakshasas of dreadful aspect, he approached Duryodhana.

Indeed surrounded by many heroic Rakshasas of diverse appearances, he came there recollecting the ancient quarrel with the Pandavas. His relative, the Brahmanadevouring Vaka had been slain (by Bhima).

So also the highly puissant Krimira and his friend Hidimba. He waited for a long time, keeping alive the memory of his old enmity with the Pandavas.

Now informed of this nocturnal battle he came there desirous of compassing the death of Bhima. Then like an infuriate elephant or an enraged snake.

That one longing to engage in the fight spoke these words addressing Duryodhana "O mighty monarch, you have heard how Bhima slew my relatives the Rakshasas Vaka, Krimira and Hidimba in battle. In days gone by, he ravished our daughter Hidimba.

Utterly disregarding ourselves and other Rakshasas. What shall I say more, O king, I have now come of my own accord here to slay him with his followers and cars and steeds and elephants as also the son of Hidimba with all his counselors. Today slaying all the sons of Kunti, headed by the son of Vasudeva, I will eat them up in company with all my followers. Prevent all your troops from battle with the Pandavas; we will fight with them."

Having heard those words of his, king Duryodhana was filled with delight; and surrounded as he was with his brothers welcoming the Rakshasa, he addressed these words to him.

Placing you and your followers in our front, we shall fight with our enemies. My troops, impelled by the enmity they bear against the Pandavas cannot be restrained.

"Then let it be so," replying thus to the king, that foremost of the Rakshasas, accompanied by his man-eating followers, dashed in fury against Bhimasena.

His person was effulgent and his chariot burnt with the splendour of the solar disc. Indeed, O foremost of kings, he looked as beautiful as Ghatotkacha himself.

His spacious chariot also emitted unequalled clatter and was adorned with numerous arches and covered with bear-skins and measured a Nalva.

His steeds were also fleet and prodigious like elephants and they brayed like asses. Living upon flesh and blood and of huge bodies, a full hundred of them were yoked to his car.

The clatter of his car also resembled the rumble of mighty clouds. His bow was also tough and strong with a hard string,

His arrows also were furnished with golden wings and whetted on stone and they resembled Akshas of cars. That hero also possessed might of arms like that of Ghatotkacha himself.

His standard also perched upon by hosts of vultures and ravens looked like the sun or the fire; in beauty of person he excelled Ghatotkacha and his countenance was flushed with rage.

He wore resplendent Angadas and effulgent diadem and garlands. His headgear and sword and floral garlands were duly tied. He was armed with maces, Bhusundis, bludgeons, ploughs and bows and he was covered with a coat of mail tough and impenetrable like the skin of elephant.

Then crushing the Pandava divisions with that car of his of the effulgence of the fire and roving thither and thither he looked beautiful, like a mass of clouds in the welkin fringed with streaks of lighting.

The foremost royal fighters of the Pandava host also, endued with great shields fought on delightfully, o king, on all sides (in that battle with Alayudha).