Dhritarashtra said: 'Having seen the army pressed by the Parthas, what did valiant Bhishma do in his fury on the battlefield? Tell me this, Sanjaya. How did that scourge of foes march out to meet the Pandavas in battle, slaying the heroic Somakas? Tell me this, Sanjaya.' Sanjaya said: 'I shall tell you, great king, what the grandfather did when your son's army was being pressed by the Pandavas and the Srinjayas. The heroic Pandavas, O descendant of Pandu, glad at heart, advanced, slaying your son's army. Bhishma then could not bear that destruction of men, elephants, and horses, that slaughter of the army by the enemy in battle. The unassailable great archer, sparing not his own life, charged upon the Pandavas, the Panchalas, and the Srinjayas. With arrows he checked the five foremost Pandavas, O king, the great chariot-warriors, weapons raised and intent on the fight. In his fury he struck down in battle countless elephants and horses with naracha arrows, vatsadanta arrows, and sharp anjalika arrows. The foremost of men, O king, hurled chariot-warriors from their chariots, riders from the backs of their horses, gathered footmen, and drivers from their elephants, striking terror into the enemy. The Pandavas surrounded that one swift mahāratha Bhishma alone in the battle, as the asuras once surrounded the wielder of the thunderbolt. Releasing sharp arrows with the touch of Shakra's own bolt, he was seen in every direction, bearing a terrible form. As he fought in the battle, his great bow, ever bent into a circle, was seen like the bow of Shakra. Seeing this feat in battle, your sons, O lord of the people, were filled with the greatest wonder and honored the grandfather. But the Parthas, growing downcast, watched your father fighting heroically in battle, as the immortals watch Vipracitti, and could not stop him, like Antaka with his jaws agape.'