Sanjaya said, “While fighting in that battle, O bull of Bharata’s race, neither the bow nor the car of Bhishma had suffered any injury.  He was then slaying the foe with straight shafts.  Many thousands of mighty car-warriors belonging to thy army, as also elephants, O king, and steeds well harnessed, proceeded for battle, with the grandsire in the van.  Agreeably to his vow, O thou of Kuru’s race, the ever-victorious Bhishma was incessantly engaged in slaughtering the troops of the Parthas.  The Panchalas and the Pandavas were unable to bear that great bowman battling (with them) and slaying his foes with his shafts.  When the tenth day came, the hostile army was torn into pieces by Bhishma with his shafts by hundreds and thousands.  O elder brother of Pandu, the sons of Pandu were incapable of defeating in battle the great bowman Bhishma who resembled the Destroyer himself armed with the lance.

“Then, O king, the unvanquished Vibhatsu or Dhananjaya, who was capable of drawing the bow with even the left hand, came to that spot, frightening all the car-warriors.  Roaring loudly like a lion, and repeatedly drawing the bow-string, and scattering showers of arrows, Partha careered on the field of battle like Death himself.  Frightened at those roars of his, thy warriors, O bull of Bharata’s race, fled away in terror, like smaller animals, O king, at the sound of the lion.  Beholding the son of Pandu crowned with victory and thus afflicting that host, Duryodhana, himself under the influence of terror addressed Bhishma and said, ’You son of Pandu, O sire, with white steeds (yoked unto his car), and having Krishna for his charioteer, consumeth all my troops like a conflagration consuming a forest.  Behold, O son of Ganga, all troops, slaughtered by Pandu’s son in battle, are, O foremost of warriors, fleeing away.  Indeed, as the herdsman belaboureth his cattle in the forest, even so, O scorcher of foes is my army being belaboured.  Broken and driven away on all sides by Dhananjaya with his shafts, the invincible Bhima is also routing that (already broken) host of mine.  And Satyaki, and Chekitana, and the twin sons of Madri, and the valiant Abhimanyu,—­these also are routing my troops.  The brave Dhrishtadyumna, and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha also, are vigorously breaking and driving away my army in this fierce conflict.  Of these troops that are being slaughtered by all those mighty car-warriors, I do not see any other refuge in the matter of their staying and fighting on the field, O Bharata, save thee, O tiger among men, that art possessed of prowess equal to that of the celestials, Therefore, receive thou those great car-warriors without delay, and be thou the refuge of these afflicted troops.  Thus addressed by him, O king, thy sire Devavrata, the son of Santanu, reflecting for a moment and settling what he should do, said these words unto thy son, comforting him (therewith), ’O Duryodhana, listen calmly to what I say, O king, O thou of great might, formerly