Nārāyaṇa-tejas: Kṛṣṇa’s Vrata, the Fire-Manifestation, and the Sages’ Inquiry (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय १२६)
यद् यद्धि किंचित् संधाय पुरुषस्तप्यते तप: । सर्वमेतदवाप्नोति विद्यया चेति न: श्रुतम्
yad yaddhi kiñcit sandhāya puruṣas tapyate tapaḥ | sarvam etad avāpnoti vidyayā ceti naḥ śrutam ||
यद् यद्धि किंचित् संधाय पुरुषस्तप्यते तपः । सर्वमेतदवाप्नोति विद्यया चेति नः श्रुतम् ॥
भीष्म उवाच
A clearly formed intention (saṅkalpa) combined with tapas (disciplined self-restraint) and vidyā (knowledge) becomes a powerful means of attainment; the verse presents this as an established traditional teaching (śruti/received hearing).
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhishma continues his didactic discourse on dharma and right conduct. Here he states a general principle: people who undertake austerity with a definite aim can achieve that aim through the combined efficacy of penance and knowledge.