Only one husband for a wife with faith, and
only one god for a devotee with faith.
No, never.
The company of other gods is not done.
No, never.
The desire for alien gods is not done.
If Koodalasangamadeva comes to know,
he will sever your nose. -Guru Basava/241/[1]
Food for the eyes,
I will make them see jangama.
Food for the ears,
I will make them hear jangama.
Food for the nose,
I will make them inhale jangama.
Food for the tongue
I will offer them to jangama.
Food for the skin,
I will offer it to jangama.
With great love I satisfy them,
I offer everything to sharanas of Koodalasangamadeva. -Guru Basava/242/[1]
That man, Arjuna, hit you with arrows,
and you were pleased with him.
That god, Kaama, hit you with flowers,
and you made him live.
That hunter who troubled you day and night,
you took him to Kailasa.
Why do you not want me, Koodalasangamadeva? -Guru Basava/243/[1]
Make me an ordinary parrot
in this worldly forest and take care of me.
Make me utter Shiva, Shiva’
put me in the cage of devotion and nurish me
Koodalasangamadeva. -Guru Basava/244/[1]
Before the temples grow sallow chin wrinkled,
before body caves in,
before teeth fall and back bends,
before the body becomes obliged to others,
before putting one hand on legs
and leaning on a stick,
before old age ruins your looks,
before death touches you,
worship Koodalasangamadeva. -Guru Basava/245/[1]
Shiva loves music they say
Shiva is no lover of music.
Shiva loves the Vedas they say,
Siva is no lover of the Vedas.
Ravala who played music
had his life cut by half.
Brahma who created the Vedas
lost his head.
He is no lover of music,
he is no lover of the Vedas.
Koodalasangamadeva is lover of devotion. -Guru Basava/246/[1]
I do agriculture, so that I can worship guru.
I do business, so that I can worship linga.
I serve others, so that I can do daasoha for jangama.
I know that whatever actions I perform
you will reward it.
Whatever you give,
I spend for you.
Whatever I earn
I will add it your wealth, Koodalasangamadeva. -Guru Basava/247/[1]
For the taste that has touched the tongue,
mind is the witness; isn’t it enough?
Does a flower bloom seeking permission from a florist?
Is it righteousness to follow the Agamas?
Is it righteousness to exhibit the joy of uniting with Koodalasangama? -Guru Basava/248/[1]
What has to happen tomorrow, let it happen today.
What has to happen today, let it be this very instant.
Why fear it, why shrink from it?
One who is born is sure to die.
What our Koodalasangamadeva has inscribed
not even Han, Brahma and other gods can undo it. -Guru Basava/249/[1]
One who blames, and one who praises,
these two are nearest relations of a Shivayogi.
One takes away the sins, the other takes away the merits.
Thus, Koodalasangamadeva,
your sharanas are eternally free. -Guru Basava/250/[1]
It is
a minute, just a minute,
half of that minute,
as quickly as eyes can open and shut
the world appears and disappears-
the world, shadow of a cloud
Maya created by Koodalasangama. -Guru Basava/251/[1]
As not knowing you, a blade of grass in hand,
as not falling at your feet, noose in the neck.
Why wring and wash,
why immerse again and again and
hold the nose?
Among the sharanas of Koodalasanga
in which stream did Dohara Kakkaya bathe? -Guru Basava/252/[1]
Your sight endless bliss,
your union absolute bliss,
making my three and a half million hairs eyes
I was looking at you.
Seeing and yet seeing you
desire taking its birth in my heart
I stood erect Koodalasangamadevayya. -Guru Basava/253/[1]
To the leather slippers of your sharana
the whole world is not equal.
See, Koodalasangamadeva,
it is never equal
to the leather slippers of your sharana. -Guru Basava/254/[1]
Worshiping linga with faith
and not knowing another path
your sharana is like gem on serpent’s hood, a decoration.
Like reflection in a mirror they never withdraw,
Koodalasangamadeva, are your sharanas. -Guru Basava/255/[1]
[1] Number indicates at the end of each Vachana is from the book "Vachana",
pub: Basava Samiti Bangalore 2012.
