weapons, they rushed against the son of Drona for slaying him.  Endued with fierce prowess, those Rakshasas, with eyes red in wrath, fearlessly hurled at Aswatthaman’s head hundreds and thousands of darts, and Sataghnis, and spiked maces, and Asanis and long lances, and axes, and scimitars, and maces, and short arrows and heavy clubs, and battle-axes, and spears, and swords, and lances, and polished Kampanas and Kunapas, and Hulas, and rockets, and stones, and vessels of (hot) treacle, and thunas made of black iron, and mallets, all of terrible forms and capable of destroying foes.  Beholding that thick shower of weapons falling upon the head of Drona’s son, thy warriors were much pained.  The son of Drona, however, fearlessly destroyed with his whetted shafts endued with the force of the thunder that frightful shower of weapons looking like a risen cloud.  Then the high-souled son of Drona, with other weapons, equipped with golden wings and inspired with mantras speedily slew many Rakshasas.  Afflicted with those shafts, that vast force of broad-chested Rakshasas looked like a herd of infuriated elephants afflicted by lions.  Then those mighty Rakshasas, thus afflicted Drona’s son, became filled with fury and rushed against the former.  The prowess that the son of Drona then showed was exceedingly wonderful, for the feat he achieved is incapable of being achieved by any other being among living creatures, since, alone and unsupported, that warrior acquainted with high and mighty weapons burnt that Rakshasa force with his blazing shafts in the very sight of that prince of Rakshasas.  Whilst consuming that Rakshasa force, Drona’s son in that battle shone resplendent like the Samvartaka fire, while burning all creatures at the end of the Yuga.  Indeed, amongst those thousands of kings and those Pandavas, O Bharata, there was none, except that mighty prince of the Rakshasa, viz., the heroic Ghatotkacha, capable of even looking at the son of Drona in that battle, who was thus employed in consuming their ranks with his shafts, resembling snakes of virulent poison.  The Rakshasa, O chief of the Bharatas, with eyes rolling in wrath, striking his palms, and biting his (nether) lip, addressed his own driver, saying, ‘Bear me towards the son of Drona.’  Riding on that formidable car equipped with triumphal banners, that slayer of foes once more proceeded against Drona’s son, desirous of a single combat with the latter.  Endued with terrible prowess, the Rakshasa, uttering a loud leonine roar, hurled in that encounter at Drona’s son, having whirled it (previously), a terrible Asani of celestial workmanship, and equipped with eight bells.[203] Drona’s son, however, jumping down from his car, having left his bow thereon, seized it and hurled it back at Ghatotkacha himself.  Ghatotkacha, meanwhile, had quickly alighted from his car.  That formidable Asani, of dazzling effulgence, having reduced to ashes the Rakshasa’s vehicle with steeds and drivers and standard, entered the