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 ||
Vāsudeva berkata: “Sekalipun kelahiranku terjadi dalam kalangan yang terbuang, biarlah demikian—asal aku tetap tekun menyembah dan bersujud hormat di kaki Hara. Namun janganlah aku hidup tanpa bhakti kepada Tuhan; aku tidak mengingini tempat tinggal walau di istana Indra sekalipun, jika ia kosong daripada kesetiaan yang tunggal kepada Śiva.”
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.