Guru Basava Vachanas

Getting up in the morning
and rubbing my eyes
I will never get fretful of my body, my wealth, my wives and children.
My mind is witness for this.
‘Basavanna reads the shrutiaasane
shayane yaane samparke sahabhojane samcharmti nzahaaghore narake kalamakshyama
but sits at the feet of bhavi Bijjalas’ throne and serves him’ say your pramathas.
Can I answer them?
No, I cannot.
I am anxious of serving you
and for that I will enter house of untouchables
or be a coolie,
but I will never fret for my own needs.
If I do,
My head is offered as penalty, Koodalasangamadeva. -Guru Basava/421/^[1]

Getting up in the morning
and not filling his sight with Shiva linga
what life is his life?
He is a living corpse, a fallen corpse,
What life is his life?
He is a walking corpse, a speaking corpse,
What life is his life?
Maker Koodalasangama
What life is his life who doesn’t serve you? -Guru Basava/422/^[1]

I swear on you and your pramathasI
will not desire a particle of gold or
a thread of cloth for today or for tomorrow.
I do not know any use of them
but for your sharanas, Koodalasangamadeva. -Guru Basava/423/^[1]

Those who beat me,
I say they brought me up.
Those who blamed me,
I say they are my kin.
Those who ill-treat me,
I say they are my parents.
Those who look down upon me,
I say they are my masters.
Those who condemn me,
I say they are relations of my life.
Those who praise me,
I say they put me on golden stake, Koodalasangamadeva. -Guru Basava/424/^[1]

What use applying fragrance without, when within me it is not pure?
What use wearing prayer beads, when it doesn’t touch my mind?
What use reading hundreds of books,
unless I don’t touch the mind of Koodalasangamadeva? -Guru Basava/425/^[1]

Can a dog, carried on one’s shoulder,
ever catch a hare?
A hero who never stabbed any one
describing his greatness is but a shame.
How can I be a devotee, Koodalasangamadeva? -Guru Basava/426/^[1]

Like a lost child desiring for mother
like a lost cow searching for its herd
I am yearning for the coming of your sharanas
I am yearning for the coming of your bhaktas.
Coming of your sharanas
is like the sunrise making the lotus blossom,
Koodalasangamadeva. -Guru Basava/427/^[1]

Unless a woman enters her courses the embryo has no shelter.
Functions of semen and egg are the same.
Desire, greed, anger, pleasures are all same.
Whatever you read or listen what is the fruit?
What is the proof of a highborn?
saptadhaatusamain pindam sanayoni samudhbhavam atma jeevasamaayuktam varnaanam kim prayojanam
Hence
Heating the metal one became a blacksmith.
Washing the clothes one became a washerman.
Weaving a cloth one became a weaver.
Reading the Vedas one became a Brahmin.
Is there any one in this world who is born through the ears?
That’s why Koodalasangamadeva
One who knows lingasthala is the highborn. -Guru Basava/428/^[1]

If an untouchable becomes a devotee
don’t I felicitate his dog with five great musical instruments?
Don’t I shout and cheer in joy?
Does a Brahmin attain fulfillment
just because he is of higher caste?
The glory of your sharana is greater than the greatest.
Koodalasangamadeva
and one who has no faith in you is the untouchable. -Guru Basava/429/^[1]

If the untouchable is on the right path
it is better to be in his company.
Without losing the path submit yourself to linga.
Do not lose the path, submit yourself to Shiva.
In the great house of Koodalasangama
Maadara Chennayya is on the right path. -Guru Basava/430/^[1]

Is there pollution where linga is?
Is there caste where jangama is?
Is there impurity where the prasaada is?
Speaking impure words is sin.
Pure and true union with guru, linga and jangama
is for none but your sharanas Koodalasangamadeva. -Guru Basava/431/^[1]

My devotion is similar to that of a peasant woman
who worshiped the threshold and crossed it.
Considering jangama as my master
and if I take what they offer and be indifferent
I will be far away from this world and the other world.
Koodalasangama will push me to great hell.
-Guru Basava/432" ];