That enhancer of the joy of his friends soon came to the fight. The son of Shantanu, Bhishma, protected the warriors headed by the Sindhu king and by the warriors of the east and also by the Kaikeyas impetuously met him who was rushing like a mad elephant, thus frightening the brave warriors and destroying the troops with his sharp arrows. Except the Kuru grandsire, and those car-warriors, Drona and Vikartana's son, who else was able to withstand in battle the wielder of Gandiva? O king of kings, Bhishma, the grandfather of the Kurus.
प्रायाच्छरणदः शीघ्रं सुहृदां हर्षवर्धनः। तमापतन्तं वेगेन प्रभिन्नमिव वारणम्॥ त्रासयन्तं रणे शूरान् मर्दयन्तं च सायकैः। सैन्धवप्रमुखैर्गुप्तः प्राच्यसौवीरकेकयैः॥ सहसा प्रत्युदीयाय भीष्मः शान्तनवोऽर्जुनम्। को हि गाण्डीवधन्वानमन्य: कुरुपितामहात्॥ द्रोणवैकर्तनाभ्यां वा रथी संयातुमर्हति। ततो भीष्मो महाराज सर्वलोकमहारथः॥