Summary
In this vachana, Basavanna rejects vows made by watching others and copying them. Such vows may have outward form, but they do not stand.
He then rejects vows performed with division between body and mind. If the body acts while the mind moves elsewhere, the observance has no inner unity.
He also rejects vows made by crossing the Guru-path. Before Kudalasangama Deva, imitated, divided, and unguided vows do not remain in truth.
Imagery & Symbolic Relevance
The first image is watching and doing. This shows imitation. The act is borrowed from another, not born from inner conviction.
The second image is the body acting while the mind has another aim. This reveals division within practice. The outer act continues, but the inward movement does not stand with it.
The third image is crossing the Guru-path. The vow loses its grounding when it moves away from living guidance.
The repeated phrase “it does not stand” gives the vachana its severity. Basavanna does not call such vows merely weak; he says they cannot abide.
The final image is Kudalasangama Deva’s truth. Human eyes may see the vow, but only what is whole can remain before the Divine.
Together, these images show the failure of hollow observance. Imitation has no root, divided action has no unity, and practice outside the Guru-path has no true standing.
Lingayoga
In Lingayoga, this vachana tests the inner coherence of practice. A vow is not made true by outer performance alone.
Body and mind must stand together. If the body follows the form while the mind moves elsewhere, practice becomes divided.
The Guru-path gives the necessary direction. Basavanna shows that observance must remain guided, inwardly whole, and able to stand in Kudalasangama Deva’s truth.
Editorial Commentary
This vachana should be read as a test of spiritual integrity. Basavanna is not rejecting vows themselves. He rejects vows that are copied, divided, or separated from the Guru-path. The measure is whether the act can stand in truth.
Related Vachana
Supporting Vachana
Bhakta Sthala Vachana 888 — The Futility of Hollow Offering
Bhakta Sthala Vachana 888 supports this vachana by showing that outward offering remains hollow when the true abode of the Sharanas is not known. Vachana 71 carries the same concern into vows: what is outwardly performed but inwardly unsupported does not stand before Kudalasangama Deva.
Advancing Vachana
Prasadi Sthala Vachana 777 — The Offering That Is Not Giving
Prasadi Sthala Vachana 777 advances this movement by showing that even the claim “I have offered” can preserve separateness. Vachana 71 rejects vows that are imitated, divided, or outside the Guru-path. Vachana 777 carries this into Prasadi Sthala, where true offering is not performance alone, but dissolution of the one who stands apart as giver.
