हार्दान्धकारकारिण्या भैरवाकारवानपि । यौवनाज्ञानयामिन्या बिभेति भगवानपि ॥ १५ ॥
hārdāndhakārakāriṇyā bhairavākāravānapi | yauvanājñānayāminyā bibhēti bhagavānapi || 15 ||
Translation
Even the Lord, whose form is terrible, fears the night of ignorance that is youth, which makes darkness in the heart.
Word by word
- hārda
- in the heart
- andhakāra
- darkness
- kāriṇyā
- which makes
- bhairava
- terrible
- ākāravān
- whose form is
- api
- even
- yauvana
- that is youth
- ajñāna
- of ignorance
- yāminyā
- the night
- bibhēti
- fears
- bhagavān
- the Lord
Meaning
Bhagavān here, with "terrible form" (bhairava-ākāra), is Śiva in his fierce aspect, or any mighty being; the Dwivedi text, even great ones are afraid. Youth is a night of ignorance that darkens the heart, and even the fearless fear it. The commentary does not soften it. The verse gives youth its due: it is not a small danger, but one before which the greatest tremble.