Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/491

straight arrowy ears, the child was terrible to behold. Of lips brown as copper and sharp teeth and loud roar, of mighty arms and great strength and excessive prowess, this child became a mighty bowman. Of long nose, broad chest, frightfully swelling calves, celerity of motion and excessive strength, he had nothing human in his countenance though born of man. And he excelled (in strength and prowess) all Pishachas and kindred tribes as well as all, Rakshasas. And, O monarch, though an infant he grew up a youth the very hour he was born. The mighty hero soon acquired high proficiency in all weapons. The Rakshasa women bring forth the very day they conceive, and capable of assuming any form at will, they always change their forms (for the purposes at hand). And the bald-headed child—that mighty bowman—soon after his birth, bowing down to his mother touched her feet and touched the feet also of his father. His parents then bestowed upon him a name. His mother having remarked that his head was (bald) like unto a Ghata (water-pot), both his parents thereupon called him Ghatotkacha (the pot-headed). And Ghatotkacha was exceedingly devoted to the Pandavas. And he became a great favorite with them, indeed, almost one of them.

"Then Hidimvā, knowing that the period of her stay (with her husband) had come to an end, saluted the Pandavas and making a new appointment with them went away whithersoever she liked. And Ghatotkacha also--that foremost of Rakshasas--promising unto his fathers that he would come when wanted for business, saluted them and went away northwards. Indeed, it was the illustrious Indra who created (by lending a portion of himself) the mighty charioteer Ghatotkacha as a fit antagonist for Karna of unrivalled energy, in consequence of the Shakti (missile) Indra had given unto Karna (and which was sure to kill the person against whom it would be hurled)."

Thus ends the hundred and fifty-sevenh Section in the Hidimva-badha of the Adi Pauva.