Shloka 187
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
श्वापि महेश्वरवचनाद् भवामि स हि नः पर: काम: । त्रिदशगणराज्यमपि खलु नेच्छाम्यमहेश्वराज्ञप्तम्
śvāpi maheśvara-vacanād bhavāmi sa hi naḥ paraḥ kāmaḥ | tridaśa-gaṇa-rājyam api khalu necchāmy amaheśvarājñaptam ||
اے شکر! مہیشور کے فرمان سے میں کتا بھی بن جاؤں—وہی میری اعلیٰ ترین آرزو ہے۔ اور مہیشور کی اجازت کے بغیر دیوتاؤں کی جماعت کی بادشاہی بھی میں نہیں چاہتا۔
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True devotion values obedience to the rightful divine command above status, power, or reward; even the lowest condition accepted for dharmic obedience is preferable to the highest sovereignty gained without proper sanction.
Vāsudeva declares his unwavering allegiance to Maheśvara’s will: he would accept even a degraded form if Śiva commands it, but he refuses even the rule of the gods if it comes without Śiva’s authorization—asserting that legitimacy and devotion outweigh worldly or celestial power.