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 ||
ವಾಯು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಅಯ್ಯೋ! ನಾವು ಎಷ್ಟು ಮೋಹಿತರಾಗಿದ್ದೆವು; ಇಷ್ಟು ದೀರ್ಘಕಾಲ ಅಚೇತನರಾಗಿದ್ದೆವು! ಜ್ಞಾನಿಗಳು ಅರಿಯುವ ಆ ಶಾಶ್ವತ ಪರಮದೇವನನ್ನು ನಾವು ಅರಿಯಲಿಲ್ಲ.
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.