Shloka 187
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
श्वापि महेश्वरवचनाद् भवामि स हि नः पर: काम: । त्रिदशगणराज्यमपि खलु नेच्छाम्यमहेश्वराज्ञप्तम्
śvāpi maheśvara-vacanād bhavāmi sa hi naḥ paraḥ kāmaḥ | tridaśa-gaṇa-rājyam api khalu necchāmy amaheśvarājñaptam ||
ಓ ಶಕ್ರಾ! ಮಹೇಶ್ವರನ ವಚನದಿಂದ ನಾನು ನಾಯಿಯಾದರೂ ಆಗುತ್ತೇನೆ—ಅದೇ ನನ್ನ ಪರಮ ಆಸೆ. ಮಹೇಶ್ವರನ ಆಜ್ಞೆಯಿಲ್ಲದೆ ದೇವಗಣಗಳ ರಾಜ್ಯವನ್ನೂ ನಾನು ಬಯಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True devotion values obedience to the rightful divine command above status, power, or reward; even the lowest condition accepted for dharmic obedience is preferable to the highest sovereignty gained without proper sanction.
Vāsudeva declares his unwavering allegiance to Maheśvara’s will: he would accept even a degraded form if Śiva commands it, but he refuses even the rule of the gods if it comes without Śiva’s authorization—asserting that legitimacy and devotion outweigh worldly or celestial power.