Summary
In this vachana, Basavanna gives a social image. A woman has her proper husband or companion before her, yet her eyes turn toward another. Seeing this, Basavanna is astonished.
The husband-image belongs to ordinary social life. It should not be directly equated with Kudalasangama Deva. The image shows improper conduct: one relation is present, but attention is directed elsewhere.
Basavanna then turns to Kudalasangama Deva and says that He will paint the nose and break the teeth. This is a sharp rebuke of such misdirected conduct.
Imagery & Symbolic Relevance
The husband or companion represents the rightful relation within social life.
The woman’s glance toward another shows a visible breach of proper conduct.
Basavanna’s astonishment shows that the fault is plain to see. The error is not hidden; it is exposed in the turning of the eye.
The image should be kept as analogy, not as direct identification. The husband is not Kudalasangama Deva. The social image prepares the rebuke that follows.
The painting of the nose and breaking of the teeth is the image of correction. Kudalasangama Deva does not approve conduct that outwardly keeps one relation while inwardly turning elsewhere.
Lingayoga
In Lingayoga, this vachana teaches steadiness of conduct and attention. The seeker should not keep one form outwardly while the inner movement turns elsewhere.
For Prasadi Sthala, the teaching is that receiving grace requires sincerity. Conduct, seeing, and inward direction should not stand apart from one another.
Editorial Commentary
The social example is used to show the seriousness of divided conduct.
Related Vachana
Supporting Vachana
Maheshwara Sthala Vachana 71 — The Unacceptable Vows
Maheshwara Vachana 71 supports this vachana by saying that outward vows do not stand when the body acts outwardly but the mind moves elsewhere. In Vachana 618, the eye turns elsewhere while the proper relation is present. Both vachanas reject divided conduct before Kudalasangama Deva.
Advancing Vachana
Pranalingi Sthala Vachana 691 — The One-Pointed Alignment
Pranalingi Vachana 691 advances this teaching by requiring mind, awareness, and knowing to become one without scattering. In Vachana 618, misdirected conduct is rebuked. In Vachana 691, the movement is toward one-pointed alignment before Kudalasangama Deva.
