field of battle.  Endued with great prowess, the ruler of the Chedis was slain by me before thy eyes.  He also was incapable of being vanquished in battle by the gods and the Asuras together.  I was born to slay him as also the other enemies of the gods, with thy assistance, O tiger among men, from desire of benefiting the world.  Hidimva and Vaka and Kirmira have all been slain by Bhimasena.  All those Rakshasas were endued with might equal to that Ravana and all of them were destroyers of Brahmanas and sacrifices.  Similarly, Alayudha, possessed of large powers of illusion, had been slain by Hidimva’s son.  Hidimva’s son also, I have slain by the employment of means, viz., through Karna with his dart.  If Karna had not slain him with his dart in great battle, I myself would have had to slay Bhima’s son Ghatotkacha.  From desire of benefiting you, I did not slay him before.  That Rakshasa was inimical to Brahmanas and sacrifices.  Because he was a destroyer of sacrifices and of a sinful soul, therefore hath he been thus slain.  O sinless one, by that act as a means, the dart given by Sakra, hath also been rendered futile.  O son of Pandu, they that are destroyers of righteousness are all slayable by me.  Even that is the vow made by me, for establishing righteousness.  Whither the Vedas and truth and self-restraint and purity and righteousness and modesty and prosperity and wisdom and forgiveness are always to be met with, thither I myself always remain.  Thou needst not be at all anxious about Karna’s slaughter.  I will tell you the means by which you will slay him.  Vrikodara also will succeed in slaying Suyodhana.  I will tell thee, O son of Pandu, the means by which that will have to be compassed.  Meanwhile, the uproar made by the hostile army is increasing.  Thy troops also are flying away on all sides.  Having achieved their objects, the Kauravas are destroying thy host.  Indeed, Drona, that foremost of all smiters, is scorching us in battle.’”

 Section CLXXXII

“Dhritarashtra said, ’When the Suta’s son had such a dart as was sure to slay one person, why did he not hurt it at Partha, to the exclusion of all others?  Upon Partha’s slaughter by means of that dart, all the Srinjayas and the Pandavas would have been slain.  Indeed, upon Phalguna’s death, why should not the victory have been ours?  Arjuna has made a vow to the effect that summoned to battle he would never refuse to accept the challenge.  The Suta’s son should have, therefore, summoned Phalguna to battle.  Tell me, O Sanjaya, why did not Vrisha then engaging Phalguna in single combat, slay the latter with that dart given him by Sakra?  Without doubt, my son is destitute of both intelligence and counsellors?  That sinful wretch is constantly baffled by the foe.  How should he then succeed in vanquishing his enemies?  Indeed, that dart which was such a mighty weapon and upon which rested his victory, alas, that dart, hath, by Vasudeva, been made fruitless through Ghatotkacha.  Indeed, it