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 ||
بھیشم نے کہا—اے تات! اس تپسیا سے روشن ہونے والی مہاتما کرشن (ویاس) کی وہ جٹائیں آج بھی آگ کے رنگ کی مانند درخشاں ہیں۔
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.