Shloka 188

Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ

Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony

Devanagari script

न नाकपृष्ठं न च देवराज्यं न ब्रह्मलोक॑ न च निष्कलत्वम्‌ | न सर्वकामानखिलान्‌ वृणोमि हरस्य दासत्वमहं वृणोमि

Transliteration

na nākapṛṣṭhaṁ na ca devarājyaṁ na brahmalokaṁ na ca niṣkalatvam | na sarvakāmān akhilān vṛṇomi harasya dāsatvam ahaṁ vṛṇomi ||

Translation

నాకు స్వర్గసుఖములు కావు, దేవరాజ్యమూ కావు, బ్రహ్మలోకమూ కావు, నిర్గుణ-నిష్కల మోక్షమూ కావు. సమస్త కోరికల సంపూర్ణతను కూడా నేను కోరను—హరుడు (శివుడు) యొక్క దాసత్వమే నేను వరిస్తాను.

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• नाकपृष्ठम्: heavenly world (svarga)
• नाकपृष्ठम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाकपृष्ठ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• न: nor/not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• देवराज्यम्: sovereignty of the gods (Indra's kingship)
• देवराज्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवराज्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• न: nor/not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Brahma-world
• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मलोक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• न: nor/not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• निष्कलत्वम्: partless/attribute-less state (nirguṇa-hood)
• निष्कलत्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्कलत्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• न: nor/not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• सर्वकामान्: all desires/objects of desire
• सर्वकामान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वकाम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अखिलान्: entire, without remainder
• अखिलान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• वृणोमि: I choose
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (वृञ्) / वृणुते
• Form: Present, First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• हरस्य: of Hara (Śiva)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• दासत्वम्: servitude, devoted service
• दासत्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दासत्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अहम्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• वृणोमि: I choose
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (वृञ्) / वृणुते
• Form: Present, First, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वासुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
• Hara (Śiva)
• Nāka/Svarga (heaven)
• Devarājya (sovereignty of the gods)
• Brahmaloka

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the highest aspiration is not reward—neither heavenly enjoyment, divine power, nor even abstract liberation—but wholehearted devotion expressed as humble service to the Lord (here, Śiva as Hara). It elevates selfless bhakti above desire-driven goals.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāsudeva speaks in praise of Śiva-devotion, stating his personal vow-like preference: he rejects a spectrum of exalted attainments (heaven, godly sovereignty, Brahmā’s realm, formless liberation, and total wish-fulfillment) and chooses only dāsatva—servant-like dedication to Hara.