Who was the teacher of Bhishma in martial arts?

Parashurama was the teacher of Bhishma in martial arts. Before he became the renowned Kuru elder, Bhishma was known as Devavrata, the son of King Shantanu and the river goddess Ganga.

Ganga took Devavrata away for his education and arranged instruction from several eminent sages. Brihaspati and Shukracharya taught him political and royal duties, while other teachers instructed him in the Vedas, spiritual disciplines and statecraft. Parashurama, the warrior-sage and sixth avatar of Vishnu, trained him in warfare and weaponry.

Parashurama was also associated with Drona and Karna, which sometimes causes confusion. Drona later became the principal martial instructor of the Kuru princes, including the Pandavas and Kauravas, but he was not Bhishma’s original teacher in arms.

The teacher-student relationship became especially dramatic when Parashurama fought Bhishma on behalf of Amba. Their legendary duel lasted for many days and ended without either warrior defeating the other. Bhishma nevertheless continued to honor Parashurama as his guru.