Ghatotkacha, the riddle and the demon bride

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Barbarika's mother defeated a Krishna-versus-Garuda battle and could only be won by a riddle.

At Indraprastha Ghatotkacha asks Yudhishthira for a task; Krishna proposes Kamakatankata, daughter of Mura (Narakasura's ally). She fought so fiercely against Krishna that Garuda fainted, and Kamakhya stopped Krishna's Sudarshana, telling her to wait for marriage into Bhima's family. Her condition is that the suitor win a debate and fight beside her. Ghatotkacha poses a riddle about a man who marries his own daughter; she cannot answer, he overpowers her, and they wed. This is the prelude to Barbarika's birth.

Who: Ghatotkacha, Kamakatankata (Mauravi), Krishna, Yudhishthira, Mura

Bound to

Barbarika: the head that watched the war (Khatu Shyam) causes

Places: Pragjyotisha (Assam), Indraprastha

Where this comes from

purana · Skanda Purana, Kaumarika Khanda ch. 59 (as presented in Bharath V's substack) Kaumarikakhanda 59 per the page

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