Poetic RenderingOne who flees is no warrior.One who begs is no devotee.A true warrior stands his ground.A true devotee asks for nothing.I shall not flee, O Lord.I shall not beg.O…

Poetic RenderingWhat use is iron,even if it knows the alchemist’s chantdoes it become gold by knowing the words?What use is a lamp burning in the house,if the house of this…

Poetic RenderingIf my steps stray in action,if my words stray in speech,if my mind belittles anotherwhat can the Linga do for me?How can grace descendwhen I myself am dividedone thing…

Poetic RenderingIf a man trembles at the feather of an arrow,can he be called a warrior?If a shadow flickers on water,does it ever speak?What worth is such bravery?What worth is…

Poetic RenderingThe scorpion dies when it delivers its young,the plantain tree falls after bearing fruit.A warrior who retreats from battleis already slain.So too, O Koodalasangama,when a human abandons his work,it…

Poetic RenderingWhen a father scolds his child,his anger is never for the child’s lifeonly for the misstep.When a Shivayogi correctsa fellow seeker on the path of the Linga,his reproach is…

Poetic RenderingWhen the Lord Himself enters a homewith His Sharana bearing the sacred Linga,and you stop to ask“His caste? His clan? His sect? His standing?”Shame upon such blindnessa thousand shames…

Poetic RenderingBecause they do not know You,their hands gather only grass for offering.Because they have not realized,they wear the sacred threada noose mistaken for holiness.They scrub their clothes,plunge into water…

Poetic RenderingIf the mountains were crushed to dustand every grain placed upon the scale,stillthe sandals of a true sharanawould send that weightless dustrising like smoke.For in those sandals walksKoodalasangamadeva’s own…

Poetic RenderingWords may pour like honeysweet on the tongue, pleasing to the earbut if the walk falters, beware!For the very Linga you wear with pridebecomes a serpent coiled in the…