# LXIII explained — Gitanjali

> Chapter companion for Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore.

## What happens

The poet reflects on how the divine has introduced him to unknown friends, given him homes not his own, and made strangers into brothers. He acknowledges his unease at leaving familiar shelters but remembers that the divine abides in both old and new. Through birth and death, the divine is the one constant companion, linking his heart with joy to the unfamiliar. Knowing the divine erases all alienation and opens every door. The poet prays never to lose the bliss of touching the one in the play of the many.

## Themes in this chapter

### Divine Love and Devotion

The poet's prayer to never lose the bliss of touching the one in the play of many reflects deep devotion and love for the divine.

### The Pain of Separation and Longing

The poet feels unease at leaving his accustomed shelter, yet finds comfort in the divine's constant presence, highlighting the tension between separation and union.

## Character check-ins

### The Poet

Expresses gratitude for being made known to new friends and given homes not his own, and prays to never lose the bliss of touching the one in the many.

### The Divine

The one companion of endless life who brings the distant near, makes a brother of the stranger, and abides in both old and new.

## Key lines

> Thou hast made me known to friends whom I knew not. Thou hast given me seats in homes not my own. Thou hast brought the distant near and made a brother of the stranger.

You have introduced me to strangers who became friends, given me a place in unfamiliar homes, and turned outsiders into family.

_The poet marvels at how the divine expands his circle of belonging._

> When one knows thee, then alien there is none, then no door is shut.

When you know the divine, no one is a stranger and every door is open.

_Knowledge of the divine dissolves all barriers between people._

> Oh, grant me my prayer that I may never lose the bliss of the touch of the one in the play of many.

Please grant my wish that I never lose the joy of feeling the divine presence within the diversity of life.

_The poet's ultimate prayer is to always perceive the unity behind multiplicity._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/gitanjali_se/chapters/lxiii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/gitanjali_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/gitanjali_se/chapters