# Chapter XXXIX explained — Gitanjali

> Chapter companion for Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

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