You can make them talk
if the serpent
has stung
them.
You can make them talk
if they're struck
by an evil planet.
But you can't make them talk
if they're struck dumb
by riches.
Yet when Poverty the magician
enters, they'll speak
at once,
O lord of the meeting rivers.
-- BASAVAŅŅA [Translated by A. K. Ramanujan in the book - Speaking of Siva]
Till you've earned
knowledge of good and evil
it is
lust's body,
site of rage,
ambush of greed,
house of passion,
fence of pride,
mask of envy.
Till you know and lose this knowing
you've no way
of knowing
my lord white as jasmine.
--DĒVARA DĀSIMAYYA [Translated by A. K. Ramanujan in the book - Speaking of Siva]
