Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 186
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
अपि कीट: पतड़्जो वा भवेयं शड्कराज्ञया । न तु शक्र त्वया दत्त त्रलोक्यमपि कामये
api kīṭaḥ pataṅgo vā bhaveyaṃ śaṅkarājñayā | na tu śakra tvayā dattaṃ trailokyam api kāmaye ||
婆苏提婆说：“奉商羯罗之命，我纵成蠕虫或飞蛾亦可；但啊，释迦罗（因陀罗）啊，若是你所赐，纵三界之主我亦不求。摩诃提婆所判定的一切——哪怕最卑下的境地——我都视为至上圆满；除他之外，任何人所授的天众之权，我都无意接受。”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True allegiance and fulfillment lie in accepting the will of the highest revered authority (here Śaṅkara), not in pursuing power or cosmic sovereignty offered by others; humility and devotion outweigh worldly or even heavenly dominion.
Vāsudeva addresses Śakra (Indra) and rejects the offer of trailokya-rājya (rule over the three worlds), declaring that even a lowly rebirth would be acceptable if ordained by Śaṅkara, thereby emphasizing devotion and disinterest in externally granted power.