अध्याय १६ — शङ्कर-उमा-वरदानम् तथा तण्डि-स्तुतिः (Śaṅkara–Umā Boon-Granting and Taṇḍi’s Hymn)
अहो मूढा: सम सुचिरमिमं कालमचेतसा । यन्न विद्य: परं देवं शाश्व॒तं यं विदुर्बुधा:
aho mūḍhāḥ sma suciram imaṁ kālam acetasaḥ | yan na vidyāḥ paraṁ devaṁ śāśvataṁ yaṁ vidur budhāḥ ||
Vāyu dit : «Hélas, combien nous avons été abusés — si longtemps sans vigilance ni pensée claire ! Car nous n’avons pas reconnu le Dieu suprême et éternel, celui que les sages connaissent en vérité.»
वायुदेव उवाच
The verse teaches that true wisdom begins with admitting one’s delusion and turning toward recognition of the eternal Supreme God known by the wise; ethical and spiritual progress requires humility and awakened discernment.
Vāyu speaks in a reflective, repentant tone, lamenting that he (and others implied by “we”) remained heedless for a long time and failed to recognize the eternal Supreme Deity whom enlightened sages understand.