# LXXVII explained — Gitanjali

> Chapter companion for Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore.

## What happens

The poet reflects on the paradox of knowing the divine as God and father yet failing to embrace the divine as a close companion or comrade, highlighting a separation from both the divine and humanity due to a reluctance to fully engage in life and share with others.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Pain of Separation and Longing

The poet laments the distance from the divine, knowing God as father but not as a close friend or comrade, and standing apart from both the divine and humanity.

### Surrender and Egolessness

The poet acknowledges a failure to fully surrender, shrinking from giving up life and not plunging into the great waters of life, which prevents true union with the divine.

## Character check-ins

### The Poet

The speaker who acknowledges the divine as God and father but keeps a distance, not grasping the divine as a friend or comrade.

### The Divine

Addressed as God, father, brother, and comrade, yet the poet does not fully embrace this closeness.

## Key lines

> I know thee as my God and stand apart⁠—I do not know thee as my own and come closer.

I recognize you as my God and keep my distance, but I don't know you as my own and draw near.

_The poet contrasts reverent distance with intimate closeness._

> I stand not where thou comest down and ownest thyself as mine, there to clasp thee to my heart and take thee as my comrade.

I don't stand where you descend and claim me as yours, so I can embrace you and accept you as my companion.

_The poet misses the opportunity for intimate companionship with the divine._

> I shrink to give up my life, and thus do not plunge into the great waters of life.

I hesitate to surrender my life, and so I don't immerse myself in the vast ocean of existence.

_The poet acknowledges a reluctance to fully embrace life and surrender the self._

## Links

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