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 ||
ഹേ ശക്രാ! മഹേശ്വരന്റെ വചനത്താൽ ഞാൻ നായയായാലും ആകും—അതുതന്നെ എന്റെ പരമാഭിലാഷം. മഹേശ്വരന്റെ ആജ്ഞയില്ലാതെ ദേവഗണങ്ങളുടെ രാജ്യം പോലും ഞാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നില്ല.
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.