मार्कण्डेयमुखात् कृत्स्नं यतिधर्ममवाप्तवान् । रामादस्त्राणि शक्राच्च प्राप्तवान् पुरुषर्षभ:
mārkaṇḍeyamukhāt kṛtsnaṃ yatidharmaṃ avāptavān | rāmāt astrāṇi śakrācca prāptavān puruṣarṣabhaḥ ||
वैशम्पायन बोले— पुरुषश्रेष्ठ भीष्म ने मार्कण्डेय के मुख से सम्पूर्ण यतिधर्म का ज्ञान प्राप्त किया; और परशुराम तथा शक्र (इन्द्र) से अस्त्र-शस्त्रों की शिक्षा पायी।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
True authority in dharma-discourse is grounded in comprehensive ethical discipline (yatidharmānuśāsana) as well as practical competence; Bhīṣma’s guidance is validated by learning from a great ṛṣi (Mārkaṇḍeya) and by mastery of martial knowledge from eminent teachers (Paraśurāma and Indra).
Vaiśampāyana is describing Bhīṣma’s qualifications: he acquired complete knowledge of ascetic conduct from sage Mārkaṇḍeya and received weapon-instruction from Paraśurāma and Indra, establishing why Bhīṣma is fit to instruct Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma in the Śānti Parva.