Gitanjali · Chapter
Chapter XXXIX explained
The poet calls upon the divine to bring mercy, song, peace, and light in times of hardship, blindness, and delusion.
What happens
The poet calls upon the divine to bring mercy, song, peace, and light in times of hardship, blindness, and delusion.
Themes in this chapter
Divine Love and Devotion
The poet's heartfelt plea for mercy, song, peace, and light reflects deep devotion and longing for the divine.
The Pain of Separation and Longing
The imagery of a parched heart, lost grace, and a beggarly soul crouched in a corner conveys intense separation and yearning.
Characters to notice
- The Poet
The speaker who pleads for divine intervention in various states of distress.
- The Divine
The addressed entity, invoked as lord of silence, king, and holy one.
Key passages
“When the heart is hard and parched up, come upon me with a shower of mercy.”
When my heart is dry and unfeeling, pour your compassion over me like rain.
The poet asks for mercy to soften a hardened heart.
“When grace is lost from life, come with a burst of song.”
When life lacks grace, arrive with a sudden outpouring of music.
Song is invoked as a restorative force.
“When tumultuous work raises its din on all sides shutting me out from beyond, come to me, my lord of silence, with thy peace and rest.”
When noisy work surrounds me and blocks out the transcendent, bring me your quiet peace and rest, lord of silence.
The poet seeks stillness amid chaos.
“When my beggarly heart sits crouched, shut up in a corner, break open the door, my king, and come with the ceremony of a king.”
When my heart feels poor and trapped, force your way in with royal grandeur.
The divine is asked to enter with majesty.
“When desire blinds the mind with delusion and dust, O thou holy one, thou wakeful, come with thy light and thy thunder.”
When craving clouds my mind with illusion and filth, holy and alert one, bring your illuminating light and powerful thunder.
The poet calls for clarity and divine force to overcome desire.