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 ||
婆苏提婆宣言：“我不求天界之乐，不求天王之位，不求梵天世界，亦不求无相解脱之境；我也不求世间一切欲愿尽得。我所选择的唯有一事：作哈罗（湿婆）之仆。”
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.