Obviously this post is dedicated to analyzing the fight between these 2 characters from a unbiased angle but i choose to also upload 1 edited image of ashwathama (using the face of Chopra's actor as a base) wearing armor, just to test my editing skills.
For the quotes i will rely solely on KMG mahabharat not bori ce, gita press, dakshinatya, indonesian MB or kashidasi.
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Their very 1st battle was on day eight.
Quote:
"He then struck the chariot of Vivingsati and Aswatthaman. These fell down on the front of their cars, relinquishing the reins of the steeds. With another crescent-shaped shaft he overthrew the standard of Jayadratha bearing the device of a boar and decked with gold. And with a second arrow he cut off the latter's bow. And with eyes red in wrath, he slew with four shafts the four steeds of the high-souled king of Avanti. And with another arrow, O king, well-tempered and sharp, and shot from his bow drawn to its fullest stretch, he pierced king Vrihadvala. Deeply pierced and exceedingly pained, the latter sat down on the terrace of his car."
Event's made simple - bhishma orders people including Ashwathama to protect Duryodhan from ghatotkaca, seeing him approach ghatotkaca chose to hit him with arrows, ashwathama failed to retaliate & counter attack.
After this Yudisther told Bhima to lead a contingent of warriors to accompany or help Ghatotkaca because in his POV (point of view) Ghatotkaca was slowly losing the fight:
"Those mighty car-warriors, drawing their bows that measured full six cubits long, and uttering loud roars like a herd of lions, all rushed together against that single warrior. And surrounding him on all sides, they covered him with their arrowy showers like the clouds covering the mountain-breast with torrents of rain in autumn. Deeply pierced with those arrows and much pained, he resembled then an elephant pierced with the hook. Quickly then he soared up into the firmament like Garuda. And (while there) he uttered many loud roars like the autumnal clouds, making the welkin and all the points of the compass, cardinal and subsidiary, resounded with those fierce cries."
Logic - but in my opinion even if he was losing then still its not embarrassing because ghatotkaca was alone against a group of many people, ashwathama did a group attack like a coward.
Round 2:
"Beholding king Nila, who looked like a mass of blue clouds, in a swoon, Ghatotkacha, filled with wrath and surrounded by his kinsmen, rushed impetuously towards Drona's son, that ornament of battle. Similarly many other Rakshasas, incapable of being easily defeated in battle, rushed at Aswatthaman. Beholding then that Rakshasa of terrible mien coming towards him, the valiant son of Bharadwaja impetuously rushed towards him. Filled with wrath he slew many Rakshasas of formidable visage, that is, those wrathful ones amongst them who were in Ghatotkacha's van. Beholding them repulsed from the encounter by means of the shafts shot from the bow of Drona's son, Bhimasena's son Ghatotkacha of gigantic size was filled with rage. He then exhibited a fierce and awful illusion. Therewith that prince of the Rakshasas, endued with extraordinary powers of illusion, confounded the son of Drona in that battle."
Logic; the incident here is extremely difficult to decipher/understand. A list of nameless rakshasas were also with ghatotkaca, they had been killed in ways undescribed or not narrated by Sanjaya. I suppose that Ashwathama should be hailed for being able to slay multiple warriors infront of ghatotkaca. But after their deaths the thing is Ghatotkaca used a magic trick which is confusing.
Did ashwathama lose?
{Begin}
All thy troops, in consequence of that illusion, turned their backs upon the field. They beheld one another cut down and lying prostrate on the surface of the earth, writhing convulsively, perfectly helpless, and bathed in blood. Drona and Duryodhana and Salya and Aswatthaman, and other great bowmen that were regarded as foremost among the Kauravas, also seemed to fly away. All the car-warriors seemed to be crushed, and all the kings seemed to be slain. And horses and horse-riders seemed to be cut down in thousands. Beholding all this, thy troops fled away towards their tents. And although, O king, both myself and Devavrata cried out at the top of our voices, saying "Fight, do not fly away, all this is Rakshasa illusion in battle, applied by Ghatotkacha." Yet they stopped not, their senses having been confounded. Although both of us said so, still struck with panic, they gave no credit to our words.
{End}
Logic - i believe that Ghatotkaca manifested a illusionary/fake scene of drona & ashwathama running away, which is possible cause if he is able to use magic to produce rakshasas then he should also be capable of manifesting fake clones of ashwathama/drona. The same way Ravan created fake clones of laxman/raam in vana parva of mahabharat (according to Markandeya).
In the following chapter the above incident was considered a loss by Duryodhan himself, but what readers do not understand is that he had to accept defeat because his army fled from the field not cause a warrior lost. One clue is that the real Drona was mentioned fighting a different character but for Ashwathama's character their was unfortunately no mention of his actions after the magic trick of Ghatotkaca. So in conclusion Ghatotkaca probably defeated ashwathama (cause no action of ashwathama is mentioned afterwards) but not Drona.
SCORE BOARD - Ghatotkaca forced ashwathama to retreat 2 times, ashwathama failed.
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Important point to be noted;
During the conversation between ghatotkaca & ashwathama (night 14) he called ghatotkaca the word "son" affectionately. This not only showed that ashwathama had no discrimination/bias in his heart for rakshasas but it also showed his positive nature and qualities. It was before drona's death so its before ashwathama's heart went dark & he became a negative villain type character. Since ashwathama was pro pandava (but fought for kauravas) a theory can be made that on day 8 he purposely decided to not use his full power against Ghatotkaca which is why he lost against him during day time.
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The 14th night is when they have their next meeting between eachother.
Background quote:
"Then in the very sight of Karna, of Aswatthaman, of Duryodhana, of Kripa, of Somadatta, and of Valhika, the son of Pandu, that chastiser of foes, by a stamp of his foot, caused that car of the heroic Durmada and Dushkarna to sink into the earth."
Note - this quote is placed here to show what ashwathama was doing before his fight vs Ghatotkaca, while guru Drona defeated Ghatotkaca before the ashwathama vs ghatotkaca fight it seems like their was nothing relevant done by ashwathama this night before he faced Ghatotkaca. So Ghatotkaca began his duel (vs Ashwathama) being injured while Ashwathama started out fresh.
Ghatotkaca moved to challenge Ashwathama:
"Seeing him rush in that battle against the car of Sini's grandson, Bhimasena's son, the gigantic Rakshasa, Ghatotkacha, endued with great strength, rushed at him, riding on a huge and terrible car made of black iron covered with bear-skins."
Battle begin's;
"Only the proud son of Drona, ever boastful of his might in arms, stood fearlessly. And he soon dispelled that illusion that had been created by Ghatotkacha. Upon the destruction of his illusion, Ghatotkacha in rage sped fierce shafts (Aswatthaman). These pierced the son of Drona, like angry snakes speedily piercing through an ant-hill. Those arrows, having pierced through the body of Aswatthaman, dyed with blood and quickly entered the earth."
Logic; Here the different rakshasas on the field & the other beasts were considered to be merely illusions (not-real-creatures-or-being's), which is why when they die then Sanjaya referred to their deaths as "a illusion dispelled"
Ashwathama's counter-attack;
"Aswatthaman, however, of great prowess, filled with wrath, pierced Ghatotkacha with ten arrows. Ghatotkacha, deeply pierced in his vital parts by Drona's son, and feeling great pain, took up a wheel having a thousand spokes. Its edge was sharp as a razor, and it was resplendent as the rising sun. And it was decked with diverse gems and diamonds. Desirous of slaying him, the son of Bhimasena hurled that wheel at Aswatthaman. And as that wheel coursed swiftly towards Drona's son, the latter cut it into fragments by means of his shafts. Baffled, it fell down on the earth, like the hope cherished by an unfortunate man."
"Beholding his wheel baffled, Ghatotkacha quickly covered the son of Drona with his shafts, like Rahu swallowing the sun. Meanwhile, Ghatotkacha's son endued with great splendour and looking like a mass of antimony, checked the advancing son of Drona like the king of mountain checking the wind. Afflicted with showers of shafts by Bhimasena's grandson, the brave Anjanaparvan, Aswatthaman looked like the mountain Meru bearing a torrent of rain from a mighty cloud."
Logic - I removed the parenthesis-text and the page number to make it easier to read. But clearly in this round its Ashwathama who had the upper hand against Ghatotkaca.
SCORE-BOARD; Ashwathama has 1 point but Ghatotkaca maintains 2 points [due to his victory on day 8].
AnjanParva Mrityu:
"With one shaft he cut off the standard of Anjanaparvan. With two others, his two drivers, and with three others, his Trivenuka. And he cut off the Rakshasa's bow with one arrow, and his four steeds with four other arrows. Made carless, Anjanaparvan took up a scimitar. With another keen shaft, Aswatthaman cut off in two fragments that scimitar, decked with golden stars, in the Rakshasa's hand. The grandson of Hidimva then, O king, whirling a gold adorned mace, quickly hurled it at Aswatthaman. Drona's son, however, striking it with his shafts, caused it to fall down on the earth. Soaring up then into the sky, Anjanaparvan began to roar like a cloud. And from the welkin he showered trees upon his foe."
"Like the sun piercing a mass of clouds with his rays, Aswatthaman then began to pierce with his shafts the son of Ghatotkacha, that receptacle of illusions, in the welkin. Gifted with great energy, the Rakshasa once more came down on his gold decked car. He then looked like a high and beautiful hill of antimony on the surface of the earth. The son of Drona then slew that son of Bhima's son, Anjanaparvan, cased in an iron coat of mail, even as Mahadeva had slain in days of yore the Asura Andhaka. Beholding his mighty son slain by Aswatthaman, Ghatotkacha, coming unto the son of Drona, fearlessly addressed the heroic son of Saradwata's daughter, who was then consuming the Pandava troops like a raging forest-conflagration, in these words."
Comment - I wonder why ghatotkatch stood silently as a mute spectator while his innocent unpopular son fought bravely? Regardless this moment counts as a embarassment for Ghatotkaca but it is not a defeat because the person who ashwathama dueled is ghatotkaca's son not ghatotkaca himself.
They fight again;
"Ghatotkacha began to shower upon that bull among car-warriors, Drona'sson, shafts of the measure of Aksha of battle car, like a cloud pouring torrents of rain. Drona's son however, with his own shafts, checked that arrowy shower before it could reach him. At that time, it seemed that another encounter was taking place in the welkin between shafts (as the combatants). The welkin, then, during the night, shone resplendent with the sparks caused by the clash of those weapons, as if with (myriads of) flies. Observing that his illusion was dispelled by Drona's son, proud of his prowess in battle, Ghatotkacha, once more making himself invisible, created an illusion. He assumed the form of a high mountain, crowded with cliffs and trees, and possessing fountains from which ceaselessly flowed spears and lances and swords and heavy clubs. Beholding that mountain-like mass of antimony, with countless weapons falling from it, Drona's son was not at all moved. The latter invoked into existence the Vajra weapon. The prince of mountains, then, struck with that weapon, was quickly destroyed."
"Then the Rakshasa, becoming a mass of blue clouds in the firmament, decked with rainbow, began furiously to shower upon Drona's son in that battle a downpour of stones and rocks. Then that foremost of all persons acquainted with weapons, Aswatthaman, aiming the Vayavya weapon, destroyed that blue cloud which had risen on the firmament. Drona's son, that foremost of men, covering then all the points of the compass with his shafts, slew a hundred thousand car-warriors. He then beheld Ghatotkacha fearlessly coming towards him with bent bow and accompanied by a large number of Rakshasas that resembled lions or infuriated elephants of great strength, some riding on elephants, some on cars, and some on steeds. The son of Hidimva was accompanied by those fierce followers of his, with frightful faces and heads and necks. Those Rakshasas consisted of both Paulastyas and Yatudhanas. Their prowess was equal to that of Indra himself. They were armed with diverse kinds of weapons and were cased in diverse kinds of armour. Of terrible visage, they swelled with rage. Ghatotkacha came to battle, accompanied by those Rakshasas, who were, indeed, incapable of being easily defeated in battle. Beholding them, thy son, Duryodhana, became exceedingly cheerless."
Comment - after this ashwathama had a conversation with duryodhan, so whatever ghatotkaca was doing during that time period had not been reported (to dhritrashtra or any audience) by sanjaya.
SCORE BOARD stayed the same here.
Though ghatotkaca was clearly being overpowered/beaten the fact is he had not run away yet so the outcome of this fight is undecided so far. Whats interesting is that the narrative here states ghatotkaca killed over 100,000 warrior's, that might lead readers to believe maybe ghatotkaca was doing a group attack against him.
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Continuation;
Ghatotkacha, filled with rage, struck Drona's son in the chest with ten powerful shafts fierce as poison or fire. Deeply pierced with those shafts by the son of Bhimasena, Aswatthaman trembled on the terrace of his car like a tall tree shaken by the tempest. Once more Ghatotkacha, with a broad-headed shaft, quickly cut off the bright bow that was in the hands of Drona's son. The latter, then, taking up another bow capable of bearing of great strain, showered keen arrows (upon his foe) like a cloud pouring torrents of rain. Then the son of Saradwat's daughter, O Bharata, sped many sky-ranging and foe-slaying arrows, winged with gold, towards the sky-ranging Rakshasa. Afflicted with those shafts of Aswatthaman, that vast force of broad-chested Rakshasas looked like a herd of infuriated elephants afflicted by lions. Consuming with his arrows those Rakshasas with their steeds, drivers, and elephants, he blazed forth like the adorable Agni while consuming creatures at the end of the Yuga. Having burnt with his shafts a full Akshauhini of Rakshasa troops, Aswatthaman shone resplendent like the divine Maheswara in heaven after the burning of the triple city. That foremost of victors, Drona's son, having burnt thy foes, shone brilliantly like the blazing Yuga-fire after having burnt all creatures at the end of the Yuga. Then Ghatotkacha, filled with rage, urged that vast Rakshasa force on, saying "Slay the son of Drona!" That command of Ghatotkacha was obeyed by those terrible Rakshasa of bright teeth, large faces, frightful aspects, gaping mouths, long tongues and eyes blazing with wrath. Causing the earth to be filled with their loud leonine roars, and armed with diverse kinds of weapons, they rushed against the son of Drona for slaying him.
Logic - its impressive that Ghatotkaca was able to disarm ashwathama briefly but what makes no sense is that when ashwathama was busy focused on fighting 218,700 rakshasas then ghatotkaca was just twiddling his thumb, which is unrealistic because he's supposed to be fighting with a intention of vengeance in his mind. Why would he fail to take an action or just allow Ashwathama to fight with them freely, why would he not interfere?
ScoreBoard- Though ghatotkaca behaved like a coward (sending others to fight on his behalf, not getting involved etc) he still did not run away so here he was not defeated.
Ghatotkaca uses the famed asani weapon;
{quote}
Indeed, amongst those thousands of kings and those Pandavas, O Bharata, there was none, except that mighty prince of the Rakshasa, 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. 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 earth, having pierced her through. Beholding that feat of Drona's son, his having jumped down and seized that terrible Asani of celestial workmanship, all creatures applauded it.
Yudisther had a weapon similar to Ghatotkaca's
[Quote]
"King Yudhishthira the just, took up a dart whose handle was adorned with gold and gems and whose effulgence was as bright as that of gold. Rolling his eyes that were wide open, he cast his glances on the ruler of the Madras, his heart filled with rage. Thus looked at, O god among men, by that king of cleansed soul and sins all washed away, the ruler of the Madras was not reduced to ashes. This appeared to us to be exceedingly wonderful, O monarch. The illustrious chief of the Kurus then hurled with great force at the king of the Madras that blazing dart of beautiful and fierce handle and effulgent with gems and corals. All the Kauravas beheld that blazing dart emitting sparks of fire as it coursed through the welkin after having been hurled with great force."
"Even like a large meteor falling from the skies at the end of the Yuga. King Yudhishthira the just, in that battle, carefully hurled that dart which resembled kala-ratri (the Death Night) armed with the fatal noose or the foster-mother of fearful aspect of Yama himself, and which like the Brahmana's curse, was incapable of being baffled. Carefully the sons of Pandu had always worshipped that weapon with perfumes and garlands and foremost of seats and the best kinds of viands and drinks. That weapon seemed to blaze like Samvartaka-fire and was as fierce as a rite performed according to the Atharvan of Agnirasa. Created by Tvashtri (the celestial artificer) for the use of Ishana, it was a consumer of the life-breaths and the bodies of all foes."
"It was capable of destroying by its force the Earth and the welkin and all the receptacles of water and creatures of every kind. Adorned with bells and banners and gems and diamonds and decked with stones of lapis lazuli and equipped with a golden handle, Tvashtri himself had forged it with great care after having observed many vows. Unerringly fatal, it was destructive of all haters of Brahma. Having carefully inspired it with many fierce mantras, and endued it with terrible velocity by the exercise of great might and great care, king Yudhishthira hurled it along the best of tracks for the destruction of the ruler of the Madras."
Analysis; Overall its interesting how Ghatotkaca despite being a expert wizard failed to use magic to stop the asani from being tossed backward at him, why did he need to abandon his chariot? Why would a wizard need to avoid contact with a weapon like that? Is their not another way to counter it?
Score Board: Since his chariot was destroyed & he avoided the weapon thrown by his enemy i would say ghatotkaca lost here, so its 2 points for ashwathama & him, so far they've beaten eachother a equal amount of times.
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Ghatotkaca teamed up with Dresthadyumna;
Quote
"Proceeding then, O king, to Dhrishtadyumna's car, Bhimasena's son, taking up a terrible bow that resembled the large bow of Indra himself, once more shot many keen shafts at the illustrious son of Drona. Dhrishtadyumna also fearlessly shot at Aswatthaman's chest many foremost of shafts, equipped with wings of gold and resembling snakes of virulent poison. Then Drona's son shot arrows and long shafts by thousands. These two heroes, however, Ghatotkacha and Dhrishtadyumna, struck and baffled Aswatthaman's shafts by means of their own shafts whose touch resembled that of fire."
"The battle then that took place between those two lions among men (Ghatotkacha on the one side) and the son of Drona (on the other) became fierce in the extreme and gladdened all the combatants, O bull of Bharata's race! Then, accompanied by a thousand cars, three hundred elephants, and six thousand horses, Bhimasena arrived at that spot. The virtuous son of Drona, however, endued as he was with prowess that knew no fatigue, continued to fight with the heroic son of Bhima and with Dhrishtadyumna supported by his followers."
"The prowess then that Drona's son displayed on that occasion was exceedingly wonderful, in as much as, O Bharata, none else amongst all creatures is capable of accomplishing such feats. Within the twinkling of an eye, he destroyed, by means of his sharp shafts, a full Akshauhini of Rakshasa troops with steeds, drivers, cars, and elephants, in the very sight of Bhimasena and Hidimva's son and Prishata's son and the twins and Dharma's son and Vijaya and Achyuta."
Logic - Possibly the mention of yet another aukshouni being slain is fake or its just a reminder (by Sanjaya) to dhritrashtra of ashwathama killing an aukshouni earlier during their battle that night. But the incident mentioned [in the text above the link] is without a doubt a unfair group attack on ashwathama so both bhima & dresthadyumna should feel ashamed of themselves.
Still the guy with the upper hand here was clearly ashwathama but nobody among the main three ran away (Dresthadyumna, Ghatotkaca & Ashwathama) so its not a defeat or win for either side. The score board does not change.
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Ashwathama finally defeated Ghatotkaca:
"That mighty shaft, equipped with beautiful wings, passing through the chest of that Rakshasa, O lord of the earth, entered the earth, piercing through it, Ghatotkacha thereupon fell down on the car. Beholding him fallen down and believing him to be dead, the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna took him away from the presence of Drona's son and caused him to be placed upon another car. Thus, O king, that car-force of Yudhishthira turned away from the fight. The heroic son of Drona having vanquished his foes, uttered a loud roar."
Logic - to me ashwathama's fight with ghatotkaca (at night 14) shared many similarities to the lengthy bhima vs karna duel (on day 14), where the winner (Bhima) killed many allies of the loser (Karna).
SCORE BOARD now is 3 for Ashwathama 2 for Ghatotkaca.
However this's not the end of their full battle cause they will face eachother again. After he knocked out ghatotkaca then ashwathama overheard the argument going on between Kripa/Karna, this caused him to get involved in drama/discussion. But Ghatotkaca was busy recovering while Ashwathama would advance further, he defeated Dresthadyumna & murders multiple unnamed warriors. The kaurav army also regrouped eventually lighting lamps near their chariot's to make the battlefield & opposing armies more visible to eachother.
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Ashwathama end's up fighting Drupada instead;
"Drona's son covered the, ruler of the Panchalas, and Drona himself covered the Srinjaya, with showers of straight shafts in that battle."
Opponents switch now;
"Aswatthaman, O monarch, resisted Bhimasena's son, Rakshasa (Ghatotkacha) acquainted with a hundred kinds of illusion, as the latter advanced. Vrishasena. in that battle resisted the mighty Drupada with his troops and followers as the latter advanced for getting at Drona."
It has not been explained how or why it happened [the choice of who fight's who] but at least ghatotkaca has recovered now so the saga of his battles with ashwathama can end.
SCOREBOARD maintained 2 to 3.
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FINAL battle.
Quote;
"Ghatotkacha sped at his foe shafts of the measure of the Aksha of a car, and covered that bull among car-warriors therewith, like clouds pouring torrents of rain. With his own shafts resembling snakes of virulent poison, Drona's son, however, in that battle, quickly dispelled that arrowy shower before it could reach him. He then pierced that chastiser of foes, Ghatotkacha, that prince of the Rakshasas, with hundreds of keen and swift-coursing arrows, all capable of penetrating into the very vitals. Thus pierced with those shafts by Aswatthaman, that Rakshasas, on the field of battle, looked beautiful, O monarch, like a porcupine with quills erect on its body."
"Then the valiant son of Bhimasena, filled with rage, mangled the son of Drona with many fierce arrows, whizzing through the air with the roar of thunder. And he rained on Aswatthaman a perfect shower of arrows of diverse kinds; some, equipped with heads like razors; some, shaped as the crescent; some, only pointed; some, frog-faced; some, with heads resembling the boar's ear; some, barbed; and some of other species. Like the wind dispersing mighty masses of clouds, Drona's son, O king, without his senses being agitated, destroyed with his own terrible arrows, inspired by mantras with the force of celestial weapons, that fierce, unbearable and unrivalled shower of weapons, whose sound resembled the roar of thunder, and which fell incessantly upon him."
"It seemed then that another encounter was taking place in the welkin between weapons (as the combatants), which was terrible, and which, O king, filled the warriors with awe. With the sparks all around, generated by the clash of the weapons, shot by those two warriors, the welkin looked beautiful as illumined by myriads of fire-flies in the evening. Drona's son then, filling all the points of the compass with his shafts, shrouded the Rakshasa himself, for doing what was agreeable to thy sons. Then commenced a battle once more between Drona's son and the Rakshasa on that night of thick darkness, which resembled the encounter between Sakra and Prahlada."
"Then Ghatotkacha, filled with rage, struck Drona's son, in that battle, on the chest with ten shafts, each resembling the Yuga-fire, Deeply pierced the Rakshasa, the mighty son of Drona began to tremble in that battle like a tall tree shaken by the wind. Supporting himself by holding the flagstaff, he swooned away. Then all thy troops, O king, uttered cries of Oh and Alas. Indeed, O monarch, all thy warriors then regarded Drona's son as slain. Beholding Aswatthaman in that plight, the Panchalas and the Srinjayas in that battle uttered leonine roars. Then that crusher of foes, the mighty car-warrior Aswatthaman, recovering his senses, forcibly drawing the bow with his left hand, stretching the bowstring to his ear, quickly shot a terrible shaft resembling the rod of Yama himself, aiming at Ghatotkacha. That excellent shafts, fierce and equipped with golden wings, piercing through the chest of the Rakshasa, entered the earth, O king."
"Deeply pierced, O monarch, by Drona's son who was proud of his prowess in battle, that prince of Rakshasas, endued with great strength, sat down on the terrace of his car. Beholding Hidimva's son deprived of his senses, his charioteer, inspired with fear, speedily removed him from the field, bearing him away from the presence of Drona's son. Having pierced that prince of Rakshasas, Ghatotkacha, in that encounter thus, Drona's son, that mighty car-warrior, uttered a loud roar. Worshipped by thy sons as also by all thy warriors, O Bharata, Aswatthaman's body blazed up like the midday sun."
Logic - Ashwathama was knocked out first but later so was Ghatotkaca, he basically returned the favor to him. Overall both warrior's performed equally in this fight so no point lost or gained.
After that incident Ashwathama ends up gaining a anti feat which is a bad performance against Dresthadyumna due to losing to him despite having a group attack advantage. But little to no action is done by Ghatotkaca until Jatasura's son made his entrance.
CONCLUSION - the better fighter was indeed Ashwathama but it was not a giant mismatch.
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