Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 180
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
पशुपतिवचनाद् भवामि सद्य: कृमिरथवा तरुरप्यनेकशाख: । अपशुपतिवरप्रसादजा मे त्रिभुवनराज्यविभूतिरप्यनिष्टा
paśupativacanād bhavāmi sadyaḥ kṛmir athavā tarur apy anekaśākhaḥ | apaśupativarprasādajā me tribhuvanarājyavibhūtir apy aniṣṭā ||
ବାସୁଦେବ କହିଲେ—ଭଗବାନ୍ ପଶୁପତିଙ୍କ ବଚନରେ ମୁଁ ତତ୍କ୍ଷଣାତ୍ ଆନନ୍ଦରେ କୀଟ ମଧ୍ୟ ହୋଇପାରେ, ଅନେକ ଶାଖାଯୁକ୍ତ ବୃକ୍ଷ ମଧ୍ୟ ହୋଇପାରେ। କିନ୍ତୁ ପଶୁପତି (ଶିବ) ବ୍ୟତୀତ ଅନ୍ୟ କାହାରୋ ବର-ପ୍ରସାଦରେ ଯଦି ମୋତେ ତ୍ରିଭୁବନର ରାଜ୍ୟ-ବୈଭବ ମିଳେ, ସେଥି ମଧ୍ୟ ମୋ ପାଇଁ ଇଷ୍ଟ ନୁହେଁ।
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True devotion values the deity’s will and grace above worldly attainment: even the highest sovereignty is rejected if it is not aligned with, or granted by, the revered Lord (here, Paśupati/Śiva).
Vāsudeva declares his readiness to accept any form—lowly like a worm or inert like a tree—if it is by Śiva’s command, while refusing even cosmic kingship if it comes through the boon of anyone other than Śiva.