Virūpākṣa the Charioteer

Virūpākṣa was the charioteer of Ghaṭotkaca during the Kurukṣetra war. Ghaṭotkaca was the great rākṣasa son of Bhīmasena. Virūpākṣa is named in Chapter 175 of the Droṇa Parva, in connection with Ghaṭotkaca’s fighting before the night battle of the fourteenth day. In that battle Ghaṭotkaca gave his life.

Charioteer of Ghaṭotkaca

Virūpākṣa served as Ghaṭotkaca’s charioteer in the battles of the Droṇa Parva. Ghaṭotkaca could grow to a huge size, use māyā weapons (weapons of illusion), and fight in the dark with powers that human warriors did not have.

The Droṇa Parva names Virūpākṣa in the account of Ghaṭotkaca’s fighting on the fourteenth day. This was before the decisive night battle, in which Karṇa used the divine Vaijayantī Śakti to kill Ghaṭotkaca.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Droṇa Parva, Chapter 175