Gitanjali · Chapter
LX explained
On the seashore of endless worlds, children meet in joyful play, building sand houses and floating leaf boats, oblivious to the dangers of the sea and the pursuits of pearl fishers and merchants.
What happens
On the seashore of endless worlds, children meet in joyful play, building sand houses and floating leaf boats, oblivious to the dangers of the sea and the pursuits of pearl fishers and merchants. The scene contrasts the innocence of children with the perils of the world, highlighting a timeless, carefree gathering.
Themes in this chapter
Beauty of the Ordinary and Nature
The seashore, sand houses, empty shells, and withered leaves are celebrated as elements of simple, natural beauty.
Freedom and Renunciation
Children play freely without seeking treasures or casting nets, embodying a renunciation of worldly pursuits.
Characters to notice
- The Poet
Observes and describes the scene of children playing on the seashore.
- The Divine
Implied as the eternal presence underlying the endless worlds and the sea.
Key passages
“On the seashore of endless worlds children meet.”
Children gather at the boundless shore of infinite realms.
Sets the eternal, universal stage for the children's play.
“They know not how to swim, they know not how to cast nets.”
They lack the skills for swimming or fishing.
Highlights the children's innocence and separation from adult labor.
“Death-dealing waves sing meaningless ballads to the children, even like a mother while rocking her baby’s cradle.”
The dangerous waves sing lullabies to the children, as a mother would to her infant.
Contrasts the peril of the sea with the comforting, maternal tone it takes toward the children.