Shloka 181
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
जन्म श्व॒पाकम ध्ये5पि मे5स्तु हरचरणवन्दनरतस्य । मा वानीश्वरभक्तो भवानि भवने5पि शक्रस्य
janma śvapākam adyāpi me 'stu hara-caraṇa-vandana-ratasya | mā vāniśvara-bhakto bhavāni bhavane 'pi śakrasya ||
ヴァースデーヴァは言った。「たとえ私の生が賤民の中にあろうとも、それでよい—ただし、ハラの御足を礼拝し、恭しく拝することに専心できるなら。だが、主への信愛を欠くことだけは願わぬ。シヴァへの一途な帰依がないのなら、インドラの宮殿に住むことさえ私は望まない。」
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True spiritual worth lies in unwavering devotion to the Lord (here, Śiva), not in social rank or heavenly privilege. Even the lowest birth is acceptable if it supports sincere worship, while the highest worldly or celestial status is undesirable without devotion.
Vāsudeva expresses a value-judgment: he prefers any condition of life—even an outcaste birth—so long as he can remain absorbed in venerating Śiva’s feet, and he rejects even Indra’s palace if it would mean living without single-minded devotion.