Poetic Rendering
If an elephant walks a forest path,
can the small goat claim it can follow?
So too how can I,
a mere speck of dust,
pretend to stand equal to the holy sharanas?
Yet when I see those
who serve the jangama with selfless devotion,
I ask, O Kudalasangamadeva
am I in any way equal to them?
This vachana expresses a seeker’s humility before the greatness of the sharanas. Basavanna acknowledges the vast difference between his own smallness and their spiritual stature just as a goat cannot walk the path of an elephant. Yet he longs to know whether his sincere intention and reverence for those who serve the jangama place him even slightly on their path. It is a confession of humility and a yearning to belong to the company of the truly devoted.
Spiritual Context
Core Spiritual Principle: Authentic spiritual progress begins with and is sustained by profound humility (Vinaya). The honest recognition of one’s own smallness before the greatness of the path and its perfected beings is not self-deprecation but the essential wisdom that creates a vessel capable of receiving grace.
Cosmic Reality Perspective: The Linga is the infinite, all-pervading reality. The individual ego is a finite, limited contraction. The feeling of being a “speck of dust” is a more accurate perception of reality than the ego’s illusion of grandeur. This humble awareness is the first step toward expanding into the cosmic consciousness.
Historical Reality (Anubhava Mantapa context): This vachana models the correct attitude for a member of the Sangha. It prevents spiritual arrogance and fosters a culture where even a great leader like Basavanna presents himself as a humble student, ensuring that the community remains grounded in the pursuit of truth rather than the pursuit of status.
Interpretation
1. The Analogy of Scale: “elephant… small goat…” : The elephant represents the Sharana a being of immense spiritual strength, wisdom, and stability, who leaves a deep, clear path. The goat represents the aspiring seeker small, frail, and incapable of matching the strides of the great. This is not a statement of hopelessness, but of realistic self-assessment.
2. The Confession of Humility: “mere speck of dust…” : This is the dissolution of the ego (Ahamkara). By reducing himself to a “speck,” Basavanna empties himself of all pretension, creating a void that only divine grace can fill. This is the very essence of surrender (Sharanagati).
3. The Glimmer of Hope: “Yet when I see those who serve…” : The pivot of the vachana. Humility does not lead to despair but to a focused aspiration. He finds his reference point not in comparing himself to the elephant, but in admiring the path the elephant walks the path of serving the Jangama.
4. The Heartfelt Question: “am I in any way equal to them?” : This is not a question born of ego, but of longing (Mumukshutva). It is the plea of a humble heart asking, “Does my love for this ideal, my recognition of its beauty, connect me to it in any way? Does my sincere desire to belong to this path of service grant me a place, however small, upon it?” The question itself is an act of devotion.
Practical Implications: The seeker must cultivate this two-fold attitude: the unflinching honesty to see their own limitations and imperfections, and the unwavering aspiration to orient their entire being toward the highest ideal. The practice is to admire and support the good in others without jealousy, and to see that admiration as the first step on the path itself.
The Cosmic Reality
Anga (Human Dimension): The “speck of dust” and the “goat” the humble, acknowledging seeker who recognizes the vast journey ahead.
Linga (Divine Principle): Kudalasangama Deva as the ultimate goal and the compassionate witness who values the sincerity of the heart over the grandeur of achievement.
Jangama (Dynamic Interaction): The Jangama is the ideal of selfless service that captivates the seeker’s heart. It is the magnetic force that pulls the humble Anga forward on the path, transforming its longing into progress.
Shata Sthala
Primary Sthala: Bhakta. This vachana is the pure voice of the Bhakta filled with love, humility, and a desperate, heartfelt yearning to be close to the Divine and its devotees.
Supporting Sthala: Sharana. The object of the poet’s aspiration is the state of the Sharana, who effortlessly walks the path of selfless service that he holds in such reverence.
Practical Integration
Arivu (Awareness): Practice seeing the “elephants” on your path those more advanced in wisdom, compassion, or service not as competitors, but as inspirations. Let your awareness of their greatness fuel your humility and your desire to grow.
Achara (Personal Discipline): Let your discipline be the “goat’s path.” Do not despair that you cannot do great things yet. Focus on small, consistent acts of integrity, kindness, and service. Walk your path sincerely, step by small step.
Kayaka (Sacred Action): In your work, find those who embody selfless service and learn from them. Offer your own skills humbly, without comparing your contribution to theirs.
Dasoha (Communal Offering): Even as a “speck,” you can contribute to the Sangha. Your humble presence, your sincere questions, and your reverence for the path are themselves a form of Dasoha that strengthens the collective spirit.
Modern Application
We live in a culture that encourages “imposter syndrome” on one hand, and narcissistic self-promotion on the other. We either feel we are frauds and hide, or we inflate our achievements to appear successful. We lack a healthy, humble model for being a beginner or a sincere striver.
This vachana liberates by validating the beauty of the humble seeker. It tells us it is okay to be a “goat” and not an “elephant.” It relieves the pressure to be spiritually perfect and instead invites us to find joy in sincere aspiration. The path is open not only to the great saints, but to anyone whose heart is authentically turned toward the light, no matter how small their flame may seem. This is the path of genuine, sustainable growth.
Essence
I am the goat, and they the great,
Between our steps, a wide, wide gate.
But if my heart but loves their way,
Perhaps I too, may serve one day.
Metaphysically, this vachana deals with the relationship between Jiva (individual soul) and Siddha (perfected being). The Jiva, in its contracted state, is the “goat.” The Siddha, expanded into universal consciousness, is the “elephant.” The vachana expresses the Bhavana (feeling) of Taratamya (gradation) in spirituality. However, the final question points toward the principle of Bhakti as the great equalizer. In the realm of divine love, the sincerity of the smallest heart can have immense value. The Linga’s grace does not measure the size of the vessel, but the purity of its longing. The vachana holds the tension between the path of gradual evolution (Krama Mukti) and the instantaneous power of grace (Sadhya Mukti), beautifully captured in the seeker’s hopeful question.
Do not be discouraged by the greatness of others. Let it inspire you. Your journey is your own. Start where you are, with what you have. The sincere recognition of a higher path and the humble desire to walk it, even if your steps are small, is the most important part of the journey itself. The universe honors sincere longing more than it honors hollow achievement.
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