Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 188
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
न नाकपृष्ठं न च देवराज्यं न ब्रह्मलोक॑ न च निष्कलत्वम् | न सर्वकामानखिलान् वृणोमि हरस्य दासत्वमहं वृणोमि
na nākapṛṣṭhaṁ na ca devarājyaṁ na brahmalokaṁ na ca niṣkalatvam | na sarvakāmān akhilān vṛṇomi harasya dāsatvam ahaṁ vṛṇomi ||
Ipinahayag ni Vāsudeva: “Hindi ko hinahangad ang langit, ni ang paghahari sa mga diyos, ni ang daigdig ni Brahmā, ni maging ang walang-anyo na kalagayan ng paglaya. Hindi ko rin pinipili ang katuparan ng lahat ng pagnanasa sa mundo. Iisa lamang ang pinipili ko: ang maging lingkod ni Hara (Śiva).”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.
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.