अध्याय १६ — शङ्कर-उमा-वरदानम् तथा तण्डि-स्तुतिः (Śaṅkara–Umā Boon-Granting and Taṇḍi’s Hymn)
कं वा काम॑ ददाम्यद्य ब्रूहि यद् वत्स काड्क्षसे । द्विजश्रेष्ठ! मेरी कृपासे तुम्हें एक विद्वान पुत्र प्राप्त होगा
Vāyudeva uvāca: kaṃ vā kāmaṃ dadāmy adya brūhi yad vatsa kāṅkṣase | dvijaśreṣṭha! mama kṛpayā tubhyaṃ ekaḥ vidvān putraḥ prāpsyate, yasya ṛṣayaḥ api śikṣāṃ grahītuṃ yāsyanti | sa kalpasūtrasya nirmāṇaṃ kariṣyati, atra saṃśayo na asti | vatsa! vada, tvaṃ kim icchasi? adhunā tvāṃ kaḥ manovāñchitaḥ varaḥ mayā pradātavyaḥ ||
«Dime, querido hijo: ¿qué don he de concederte hoy? Expresa lo que anhelas. ¡Oh el mejor de los brahmanes! Por mi gracia obtendrás un hijo sabio, a quien incluso los ṛṣi acudirán para recibir enseñanza. Él compondrá los Kalpasūtra; de ello no hay duda. Así pues, hijo mío, di lo que deseas: ¿qué gracia largamente anhelada he de otorgarte ahora?»
वायुदेव उवाच
Divine favor is portrayed as bearing fruit not merely as personal gain but as the rise of learning and dharma: the boon promised is a son whose scholarship benefits even sages, emphasizing responsibility, transmission of sacred knowledge, and the ethical ideal that blessings should serve the wider world.
Vāyudeva addresses a revered Brahmin affectionately, offers to grant a desired boon, and foretells that by his grace the Brahmin will have an exceptionally learned son who will instruct even ṛṣis and compose the Kalpasūtras; Vāyu then invites the petitioner to state any further wish.