Shloka 16
गालवस्य विषादः तथा विष्णुप्रयाणम्
Gālava’s Despair and Resolve to Seek Viṣṇu
स दृष्टवा शिरसा भक्तं प्रियमाणं महर्षिणा । तिष्ठता वायुभक्षेण विश्वामित्रेण धीमता
sa dṛṣṭvā śirasā bhaktaṁ priyamāṇaṁ maharṣiṇā | tiṣṭhatā vāyubhakṣeṇa viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā ||
那罗陀说道：法神见到智者毗湿瓦密多坚定而立，只以风为食，并将供奉之食器顶在头上以示苦行之敬。法神（化作修行者）洞悉其深沉的自制，便收受那食物；其热如新烹。食毕，宣言道：“噢，婆罗门仙（Brahmarṣi）！我对你极为欢喜。”言讫，法神仍以仙人之相离去。
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfast austerity and sincere offering are not merely external acts; they reveal inner self-mastery. Dharma ‘tests’ and then affirms Viśvāmitra’s righteousness, showing that true merit lies in disciplined restraint and reverent intention.
Nārada describes Viśvāmitra standing in severe austerity, living on air, with an offering placed upon his head. Dharma, disguised as a sage, accepts and eats the food, finds it miraculously hot like fresh cooking, praises Viśvāmitra as a Brahmarṣi, and then departs.