Shloka 186
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
अपि कीट: पतड़्जो वा भवेयं शड्कराज्ञया । न तु शक्र त्वया दत्त त्रलोक्यमपि कामये
api kīṭaḥ pataṅgo vā bhaveyaṃ śaṅkarājñayā | na tu śakra tvayā dattaṃ trailokyam api kāmaye ||
Vāsudeva dit : «Par l’ordre de Śaṅkara, je pourrais devenir même un ver ou un papillon de nuit ; mais je ne désire pas, ô Śakra, la souveraineté des trois mondes si elle vient de toi. Quel que soit l’état que Mahādeva décrète—fût-il le plus humble—je le tiendrai pour l’accomplissement suprême ; mais je ne souhaite pas recevoir la domination sur les dieux d’un autre que Lui.»
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True allegiance and fulfillment lie in accepting the will of the highest revered authority (here Śaṅkara), not in pursuing power or cosmic sovereignty offered by others; humility and devotion outweigh worldly or even heavenly dominion.
Vāsudeva addresses Śakra (Indra) and rejects the offer of trailokya-rājya (rule over the three worlds), declaring that even a lowly rebirth would be acceptable if ordained by Śaṅkara, thereby emphasizing devotion and disinterest in externally granted power.