Shloka 180
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
पशुपतिवचनाद् भवामि सद्य: कृमिरथवा तरुरप्यनेकशाख: । अपशुपतिवरप्रसादजा मे त्रिभुवनराज्यविभूतिरप्यनिष्टा
paśupativacanād bhavāmi sadyaḥ kṛmir athavā tarur apy anekaśākhaḥ | apaśupativarprasādajā me tribhuvanarājyavibhūtir apy aniṣṭā ||
Vāsudeva sprach: „Auf das Wort des Herrn Paśupati kann ich sogleich und freudig selbst zu einem Wurm werden — oder zu einem Baum mit vielen Zweigen. Doch wenn der Glanz der Herrschaft über die drei Welten mir durch Gabe und Gunst irgendeines anderen als Paśupati (Śiva) zuteilwürde, so wäre selbst das mir nicht begehrenswert.“
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True devotion values the deity’s will and grace above worldly attainment: even the highest sovereignty is rejected if it is not aligned with, or granted by, the revered Lord (here, Paśupati/Śiva).
Vāsudeva declares his readiness to accept any form—lowly like a worm or inert like a tree—if it is by Śiva’s command, while refusing even cosmic kingship if it comes through the boon of anyone other than Śiva.