Alambusha

Quick Facts

About Alambusha

A rakshasa master of illusion who fought for Duryodhana and hated Bhima for the killing of Vaka. Sent against Arjuna's naga-born son, he swallowed Iravan's serpent kin in the shape of Garuda and cut off the boy's diademed head; on the night of the fourteenth day Ghatotkacha bore him down and threw his head into Duryodhana's car.

In Their Words

Cut me into pieces if you can; I am younger each time I rise.

Alambusha

Traits

• Illusive
• Vengeful
• Cruel
• Formidable

Story Appearances

• The Son of RishyasringaThe night-fighter of the Kaurava army❧ 16 min
• The Serpent Prince's SacrificeSlayer of Iravan❧ 22 min
• The Night They Lit the FieldBeheaded by Ghatotkacha❧ 16 min

Stories Featuring Alambusha

12 further tales on this site name Alambusha, in canonical reading order.

• Kurukshetra Day 8: The Rakshasa's HourIravan falls and Ghatotkacha answers for himBhishma Parva ‧ 21 min
• The Herb in the Grandsire's HandA wounded Duryodhana asks Bhishma for reassurance and is given honesty, a pledge, and medicineBhishma Parva ‧ 16 min
• The Three ColumnsAt midday on the eighth day the Pandava army splits into three attacking bodies, Arjuna's son Iravan is killed, and Bhishma sends thirteen warriors to pull Duryodhana out of the fire.Bhishma Parva ‧ 21 min
• Ghatotkacha and the Javelin of BhagadattaDuryodhana asks to kill a Rakshasa, and a Rakshasa breaks a javelin across his thighBhishma Parva ‧ 24 min
• The Wall Before BhishmaEvery Kaurava champion is given one Pandava to stop on the tenth dayBhishma Parva ‧ 15 min
• The Banners and the BowsSanjaya names every standard on the fieldDrona Parva ‧ 18 min
• The Sword That Broke on the ShieldAbhimanyu strips a king of everything, and Jayadratha comes down off his car to stop himDrona Parva ‧ 13 min
• The King on FootDrona breaks Yudhishthira's bow, dart, mace and car, and the king escapes on Sahadeva's chariotDrona Parva ‧ 12 min
• The Guard at Drona's Right WheelYudhishthira orders his whole army against Drona, and never gets past KritavarmaDrona Parva ‧ 15 min
• Duels by TorchlightSix single combats fought by lamplight on the road to Drona's carDrona Parva ‧ 20 min
• The Shape of GhatotkachaSanjaya describes the rakshasa's body, chariot and host as he charges Karna at midnightDrona Parva ‧ 16 min
• The Count of the DeadKrishna's blunt answer, and a king who could see where they had goneStri Parva ‧ 16 min

Character Arc

1. 1The CommissionDuryodhana sets him on the son of Arjuna
2. 2The Garuda ShapeHe devours the nagas that shielded Iravan
3. 3The Head in the CarGhatotkacha flings his severed head at the Kuru king

Key Relationships

• Slayer of➝Iravan
• Slain by➝Ghatotkacha
• Ally➝Duryodhana
• Enemy➝Bhima

Places in Alambusha's Story

Drawn from the stories Alambusha appears in.

• Kurukshetraकुरुक्षेत्र
• Hastinapurहस्तिनापुर
• Pragjyotishaप्राग्ज्योतिष
• Nagalokaनागलोक
• Dwarakaद्वारका
• Sindhu Kingdomसिंधु

Related Characters

Others counted among the Kauravas.

• ⚔︎Duryodhana
• ☠︎Dushasana
• ⚄Shakuni
• ☀︎Karna
• ☮︎Yuyutsu
• ⛨︎Shalya