After the fall of Shantanu's son, those celestials, viz., the Vasus, coming to the banks of Ganga, bathed in her waters, and calling the goddess of that stream, they uttered these terrible words having the sanction of Bhagirati herself, viz., Shantanu's son Bhishma has been killed by Dhananjaya.
गङ्गायास्तीरमाश्रित्य हते शान्तनवे नृप॥ आप्लुत्य देवा वसवः समेत्य च महानदीम्। इदमूचुर्वचो घोरं भागीरथ्या मते तदा॥ एष शान्तनवो भीष्मो निहतः सव्यसाचिना।