अध्याय १६ — शङ्कर-उमा-वरदानम् तथा तण्डि-स्तुतिः (Śaṅkara–Umā Boon-Granting and Taṇḍi’s Hymn)
नूनमद्य कृतार्था: सम नून॑ प्राप्ता: सतां गतिम् । यां गतिं प्रार्थयन्तीह ज्ञाननिर्मलबुद्धयः
nūnam adya kṛtārthāḥ sma nūnaṁ prāptāḥ satāṁ gatim | yāṁ gatiṁ prārthayantīha jñāna-nirmala-buddhayaḥ ||
वायुरुवाच— नूनमद्य कृतार्थाः स्म; नूनं प्राप्ताः सतां गतिम्। यां गतिं प्रार्थयन्तीह ज्ञाननिर्मलबुद्धयः; तामेव गतिं निश्चयेन प्राप्ताः स्म—अतः अद्य वयं कृतार्थाः॥
वायुदेव उवाच
True fulfillment is defined not by external success but by attaining the ‘gati’ of the virtuous—an ethical-spiritual end sought by the wise whose intellect is purified through knowledge.
Vāyu declares a moment of completion: he (speaking for himself/companions) affirms that they have reached the exalted destination associated with saintly persons—the very goal that enlightened seekers aspire to while living in the world.