Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 167
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
जनन्यास्तद् वच: श्रुत्वा तदाप्रभृति शत्रुहन् । मम भक्तिर्महादेवे नैप्ठेकी समपद्यत
jananyās tad vacaḥ śrutvā tadāprabhṛti śatruhan | mama bhaktir mahādeve naiṣṭhikī samapadyata ||
Sinabi ni Vāsudeva: “Nang marinig ko ang mga salita ng aking ina, O mamumuksa ng mga kaaway, mula noon ang aking debosyon kay Mahādeva ay naging matatag at di matinag.”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfast devotion (naiṣṭhikī bhakti) is portrayed as arising from heeding wise counsel—here, a mother’s words—showing that ethical attentiveness and reverence can crystallize into lifelong spiritual commitment.
Vāsudeva recounts that after hearing his mother’s statement, from that point onward his devotion to Mahādeva (Śiva) became firm and unwavering; he addresses the listener with the epithet “slayer of foes.”