Shloka 176
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
ततो मामाह देवेन्द्रस्तुष्टस्ते5हं द्विजोत्तम । वरं वृणीष्व मत्तस्त्वं यत् ते मनसि वर्तते
tato mām āha devendras tuṣṭas te ’haṃ dvijottama | varaṃ vṛṇīṣva mattas tvaṃ yat te manasi vartate ||
すると満足したデーヴェーンドラ（インドラ）は私に言った。「婆羅門の中の最上よ、我は汝に大いに満足した。わがもとより恩寵を選べ—汝の心に宿る願いのままに求めよ。」インドラの言葉を聞いても、私の心は浮き立たなかった。だが礼を失わぬよう、外には喜びを示しつつ、神々の王に答えた。
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when offered power or reward, one should remain inwardly steady and ethically discerning; outward politeness need not imply inner attachment, and boons should be approached with restraint and dharmic intent.
Indra, pleased, invites the addressed Brahmin-like figure (dvijottama) to choose any boon. The narrator (Vāsudeva) notes that he does not feel inner exhilaration, though he responds with outward courtesy, setting up what he will request or say next.