I had no hope of success, O Sanjaya, when I heard that Vasudeva was their adviser and Shantanu's son Bhishma and Bharadvaja's son Drona had pronounced blessings on them.
यदाश्रौषं मन्त्रिणं वासुदेवं तथा भीष्मं शान्तनवं च तेषाम्। भारद्वाजं चाशिषोऽनुब्रुवाणं तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय॥