When the battle thus began, the venerable Kuru grandfather, the mighty-armed and terribly powerful Bhishma, clad in armour, took up his bow and rushed upon them. He poured a shower of arrows on the heroic son of Subhadra, on Bhimasena, on the great carwarrior Arjuna, on the ruler of the Kaikeyas, Virata, Prishata prince Dhrishtadyumna and also on the Chedi and the Matsya warriors.
तथा प्रवृत्ते संग्रामे धनुरुद्यम्य दंशितः। अभिपत्य महाबाहुर्भीष्मो भीमपराक्रमः॥ सौभद्रे भीमसेने च सात्यकौ च महारथे। कैकेये च विराटे च धृष्टद्युम्ने च पार्षते॥ एतेषु नरवीरेषु चेदिमत्स्येषु चाभिभूः। ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि वृद्धः कुरुपितामहः॥