army could not survive that slaughter.—­In a single day Bhishma can slaughter all the Daityas and the Danavas.  With how much ease then can he slay in battle the sons of Pandu with all their troops and followers.  The vast army of the illustrious son of Pandu is again flying away.  And the Kauravas also beholding the Somakas routed, are rushing to battle cheerfully, gladdening the grandsire.  Accoutred in mail, even I will stay Bhishma to-day for the sake of the Pandavas.  This burthen of the high-souled Pandavas even I will lighten.  As regards Arjuna, though struck in battle with keen shafts, he knoweth not what he should do, from respect for Bhishma,—­And while Krishna was reflecting thus the grandsire, excited with wrath, once again shot his shafts at Partha’s car.  And in consequence of very great number of those arrows all the points of the compass became entirely shrouded.  And neither the welkin nor the quarters nor the earth nor the sun himself of brilliant rays, could be seen.  And the winds that blew seemed to be mixed with smoke, and all the points of the compass seemed to be agitated.  And Drona, and Vikarna, and Jayadratha, and Bhurisrava, and Kritavarman, and Kripa, and Srutayush and the ruler of the Amvashtas and Vinda and Anuvinda, Sudakshina and the westerners, and the diverse tribes of the Sauviras, the Vasatis, and the Kshudrakas, and the Malavas, all these, at the command of the royal son of Santanu, quickly approached Kiritin for battle.  And the grandson of Sini saw that Kiritin was surrounded by many hundreds of horse, and infantry, and cars, and mighty elephants.  And beholding both Vasudeva and Arjuna thus encompassed by infantry and elephants and horses and cars, on all sides, that foremost of all bearers of arms, viz., the chief of the Sinis, quickly proceeded to that spot.  And that foremost of bowmen, the chief of the Sinis, quickly rushing at those troops, came to Arjuna’s side like Vishnu coming to the aid of the slayer of Vritra.  And that foremost warrior of Sini’s race cheerfully said unto Yudhishthira’s host all the combatants of which had been frightened by Bhishma and whose elephants, steeds, cars, and numberless standards had been mangled and broken into pieces, and which was flying away from the field, these words, ’Ye Kshatriyas, where do ye go?  This is not the duty of the righteous as hath been declared by the ancients.  Ye foremost of heroes, do not violate your pledges.  Observe your own duties as heroes’.  Beholding that those foremost of kings were flying together from the field of battle, and marking the mildness with which Partha fought, and beholding also that Bhishma was exerting himself very powerfully in battle, and that the Kurus were rushing from all sides, the younger brother of Vasava, the high-souled protector of all the Dasarhas, unable to bear it all, addressed the renowned grandson of Sini, and applauding him, said,—­’O hero of Sini’s race, they that are retreating, are, indeed, retreating.