अध्याय ३२३ — श्वेतद्वीपगमनम्, यज्ञभाग-विवादः, एकान्तिभक्त्या नारायणदर्शन-नियमः (Śvetadvīpa Journey; Dispute over Sacrificial Share; Rule of Nārāyaṇa-vision through Single-minded Devotion)
मुझे तो यह वृत्तान्त भगवान् मार्कण्डेयजीने सुनाया था। वे मुझे सदा ही देवताओंके चरित्र सुनाया करते थे ।। एता अद्यापि कृष्णस्य तपसा तेन दीपिता: । अग्निवर्णा जटास्तात प्रकाशन्ते महात्मन:
etā adyāpi kṛṣṇasya tapasā tena dīpitāḥ | agnivarṇā jaṭās tāta prakāśante mahātmanaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: Bahkan hingga kini, wahai anakku, jalinan rambut gimbal Mahatma Krishna (Vyasa)—yang dinyalakan oleh tapanya—tetap bersinar dengan warna api.
भीष्म उवाच
Tapas (disciplined austerity) is portrayed as a transformative ethical-spiritual force: it purifies, empowers, and confers a lasting radiance that signifies inner mastery and dharmic authority.
Bhishma describes Krishna as a great-souled figure whose matted locks still shine like fire because they were ‘kindled’ by his austerities—an image used to underscore Krishna’s spiritual potency and the enduring effects of tapas.