The wicked Suyodhana, bereft of a cause was about to be drowned in the sea of misfortune and with the view of rescuing him Bhishma slaughtered the rulers of the Chedis, the Panchalas and the Kaikeyas and caused a great carnage amongst the Pandava army teeming with cars, steeds with elephants.
विनिघ्नन् पृथिवीपालांश्चेदि पञ्चालकेकयान्॥ अदहत् पाण्डवी सेनां रथाश्वगजसंकुलाम्। मजन्तचमप्लवे मन्दमुजिहीर्षुः सुयोधनम्॥