Shloka 178
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
नाहं त्वत्तो वरं काडक्षे नान्यस्मादपि दैवतात् | महादेवादृते सौम्य सत्यमेतद् ब्रवीमि ते,'सौम्य! मैं महादेवजीके सिवा तुमसे या दूसरे किसी देवतासे वर लेना नहीं चाहता। यह मैं सच्ची बात कहता हूँ
nāhaṁ tvatto varaṁ kāṅkṣe nānyasmād api daivatāt | mahādevād ṛte saumya satyam etad bravīmi te ||
Sinabi ni Vāsudeva: “Mahal kong kaibigan, hindi ko ninanais humingi ng biyaya mula sa iyo, ni mula sa alinmang ibang diyos. Maliban lamang kay Mahādeva (Śiva)—ito ang katotohanang ipinahahayag ko sa iyo.”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes single-minded devotion and integrity in seeking spiritual favor: Vāsudeva openly states that he will not ask for boons from various sources, but holds Mahādeva alone as the proper giver, and he frames this as a matter of truthfulness.
In a dialogue where boons and divine favor are in view, Vāsudeva addresses someone respectfully (“saumya”) and declares that he will not request a boon from that person or any other deity; he will seek it only from Mahādeva, stating this as his sincere resolve.