Vaishampayana said Equal to Brihaspati in intelligence and Brahman himself in forgiveness, resembling Shakra in prowess and the Sun in energy, Bhishma the son of Ganga, of infinite might, had been defeated in battle by Arjuna. Accompanied by his brothers and many other people king, Yudhishthira asked him these questions.
वैशम्पायन उवाच बृहस्पतिसमं बुद्ध्या क्षमया ब्रह्मणः समम्। पराक्रमे शक्रसममादित्यसमतेजसम्॥ गाङ्गेयमर्जुनेनाजौ निहतं भूरितेजसम्। भ्रातृभिः सहितोऽन्यैश्च पर्यपृच्छद् युधिष्ठिरः॥