Summary
Basavanna says that one is not wise merely by singing. One is not wise merely by speaking well. Wisdom is not established by voice, skill, or verbal cleverness.
He then names the truly wise one. Wise is the one who firmly trusts the Linga. Wise is the one who spends himself in service to the Jangama. Wise is the one who, even in the force of youth, cuts away the tail of attachment and moves on. Such a one is Kudalasangama Deva’s Sharana.
Imagery & Symbolic Relevance
Singing is the first rejected measure. Basavanna does not deny singing itself, but he denies that singing alone makes one wise.
Speech is the second rejected measure. Clever speech may sound refined, but it does not by itself establish wisdom.
The repeated word “wise” gives the vachana its force. Basavanna first removes false measures, then states the true measures.
Firm trust in the Linga is the first true sign of wisdom. Wisdom begins where the seeker rests in the Linga without wavering.
Spending oneself in service to the Jangama is the second sign. Wisdom does not remain private or verbal. It becomes service to the living Jangama.
Cutting the tail of attachment is the third sign. The tail follows and clings. In the surge of youth, when attachment is strong, the true Sharana cuts that trailing bond and moves free from it.
The final line gathers the teaching. Such a one is not merely a singer, speaker, or clever person. Such a one is Kudalasangama Deva’s Sharana.
Lingayoga
In Lingayoga, the relevance of this vachana lies in the movement given by the source: singing and speech are not enough; wisdom is shown through firm trust in the Linga, service to the Jangama, and cutting away attachment.
The practice-point is direct: the seeker should not measure wisdom by expression alone. Wisdom must become Linga-trust, Jangama-service, and freedom from attachment.
Editorial Commentary
This vachana should be read as a correction of verbal wisdom. Basavanna does not reject song or speech, but he refuses to call them wisdom when they stand alone. The true measure is lived: trust the Linga, serve the Jangama, and cut attachment while its force is still strong. The Sharana is therefore recognized not by what he can express, but by what he lives before Kudalasangama Deva.
Related Vachana
Supporting Vachana
Maheshwara Sthala Vachana 217 — The True Measure of Devotion
Maheshwara Vachana 217 supports this vachana by asking what truly measures devotion when Jangama itself is called Linga. It rejects outward display when the mind remains restless and uses the image of wagging the tail to expose devotion that has not become inwardly steady. Sharana Vachana 153 carries the same concern into the question of wisdom: singing and speech do not make one wise; wisdom is shown through trust in Linga, service to Jangama, and cutting the tail of attachment. The support is direct: Maheshwara tests the truth of devotion; Sharana names the one who has become truly wise.
Advancing Vachana
Aikya Sthala Vachana 1166 — Kriya Is the Body, Jnana the Life-Breath
Aikya Vachana 1166 advances this teaching by carrying Linga, Jangama, action, knowledge, and offering into integrated realization. In Sharana Vachana 153, the wise one trusts the Linga, serves the Jangama, and cuts attachment. In Aikya Vachana 1166, Kriya becomes the body, Jnana becomes the life-breath, the body is made Linga, the life-breath is made Jangama, and the life-breath is offered to Linga and Jangama. Thus the Sharana-stage threefold wisdom advances into Aikya as the full union of action, knowledge, Linga, Jangama, and offering before Kudalasangama Deva.
