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 berkata: “Dengan sabda Śrī Paśupati, seketika itu juga dan dengan sukacita aku dapat menjadi seekor cacing—atau menjadi pohon yang bercabang banyak. Namun bila kemegahan kedaulatan atas tiga dunia datang kepadaku melalui anugerah siapa pun selain Paśupati (Śiva), bahkan itu pun tidak kuinginkan.”
वासुदेव उवाच
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.