Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore is a timeless classic that continues to touch readers with its spiritual and beautiful poems. This famous collection has 103 prose poems that talk about love, nature, and the divine. It is an important part of Bengali literature and admired all over the world. With simple yet powerful words, Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore helps readers think about how everything in life is connected and our close relationship with the spiritual world. Loved for its heartfelt poetry, this book brings peace and helps readers appreciate the beauty of nature and devotion.
Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore was one of the most important writers in 20th-century Indian literature. Among his expansive and impressive body of work, Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore is regarded as one of his greatest achievements. First published in 1910, it has been a perennial bestseller, captivating readers with its universal themes and lyrical beauty. This collection exceeds cultural and linguistic boundaries, making it a cornerstone of world literature.
Availability and Details of Gitanjali
The collection Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore, originally written in Bengali, consists of 157 poems, many of which have been adapted into songs known as Rabindrasangeet. The English version of Gitanjali (also called Song Offerings or Singing Angel) is a compilation of 103 prose poems, which are Tagore’s own translations of his Bengali works. Published in November 1912 by the India Society in London, it includes translations of 53 poems from the original Gitanjali as well as 50 poems from other writings by Tagore. These translations were often creative, with some poems altered or combined, such as the fusion of songs 89 and 90 from Naivedya into song 95. The English edition of Gitanjali gained significant popularity in the West and was widely translated. The book is available in paperback for ₹119 and for ₹99 on Kindle. It is published by Fingerprint! Publishing and Prakash Books India Pvt Ltd, with the first edition released on December 1, 2017. You can purchase it from various online platforms like Flipkart, Amazon and book store.
Exploring Themes of Love and Devotion in Geetanjali
- Yearning for the Divine Presence: This poem encapsulates the deep longing of the poet for the divine. It reflects a sense of regret and loss, as the speaker misses the presence of the divine even though it comes close. The imagery of the night, the harp, and dreams conveys the subtle, almost intangible nature of divine grace. It speaks to the human tendency to overlook moments of spiritual connection, lost in the mundane distractions of life.
He came and sat by my side but I woke not.
What a cursed sleep it was, O miserable me!
He came when the night was still;
he had his harp in his hands,
and my dreams became resonant with its melodies.
Alas, why are my nights all thus lost?
Ah, why do I ever miss his sight
whose breath touches my sleep?
- Divine Love and Freedom: This poem contrasts human love, which binds and seeks possession, with divine love, which liberates and remains patient. The poet portrays worldly relationships as overprotective and confining, whereas the divine relationship allows for freedom and unconditional acceptance. Even when neglected, God’s love remains steadfast, patiently waiting for reciprocation.
By all means they try to hold me secure
who love me in this world.
But it is otherwise with thy love
which is greater than theirs,
and thou keepest me free.
Lest I forget them
they never venture to leave me alone.
But day passes by after day
and thou art not seen.
If I call not thee in my prayers,
if I keep not thee in my heart,
thy love for me still waits for my love.
- God’s Presence in Nature: This poem celebrates the omnipresence of the divine in the natural world. The poet perceives God’s love in the golden light, the clouds, and the breeze. The morning light becomes a divine message, symbolizing enlightenment and grace. It highlights the intimate connection between the human heart and the divine, made tangible through nature’s beauty.
Passing Breeze
Yes, I know, this is nothing but thy love,
O beloved of my heart—this golden light that dances upon the leaves,
these idle clouds sailing across the sky,
this passing breeze leaving its coolness upon my forehead.
The morning light has flooded my eyes—this is thy message to my heart.
Thy face is bent from above, thy eyes look down on my eyes,
and my heart has touched thy feet.
- The Inner Soul’s Journey to God: This poem personifies the soul as a mysterious and elusive presence within the poet. Despite the poet’s worldly wanderings and efforts to articulate her essence, the soul remains veiled and reserved, waiting only for divine recognition. The poem reflects the sacred and solitary nature of the soul’s connection to God, untouched by external forces.
She
She who ever had remained in the depth of my being,
in the twilight of gleams and of glimpses;
she who never opened her veils in the morning light,
will be my last gift to thee,
my God, folded in my final song.
Words have wooed yet failed to win her;
persuasion has stretched to her its eager arms in vain.
I have roamed from country to country
keeping her in the core of my heart,
and around her have risen and fallen
the growth and decay of my life.
Over my thoughts and actions,
my slumbers and dreams,
she reigned yet dwelled alone and apart.
Many a man knocked at my door and
asked for her and turned away in despair.
There was none in the world who ever saw her face to face,
and she remained in her loneliness waiting for thy recognition.
- Death as Union with the Divine: Tagore views death not as an end, but as the ultimate fulfilment of life and a moment of union with God. The imagery of the bride leaving her home symbolizes the soul’s departure from the physical body to meet the divine bridegroom. The poem in Gitanjali expresses a sense of readiness and anticipation, portraying death as a friend and a culmination of life’s spiritual journey.
Death as Fulfillment
O thou the last fulfilment of life,
Death, my death, come and whisper to me!
Day after day I have kept watch for thee;
for thee have I borne the joys and pangs of life.
All that I am, that I have,
that I hope and all my love
have ever flowed towards thee in depth of secrecy.
One final glance from thine eyes
and my life will be ever thine own.
The flowers have been woven
and the garland is ready for the bridegroom.
After the wedding the bride shall leave her home
and meet her lord alone in the solitude of night.
Tagore’s Poems of Gitanjali: A Summary of Their Beauty
Each poem in Gitanjali reveals Tagore’s profound spiritual insights and his deep love for the divine. Whether depicting longing, liberation, nature, the soul, or death, his poems resonate with universal themes of love, faith, and the quest for transcendence. His simple yet lyrical language creates an emotional and spiritual connection with readers, making his work timeless and deeply personal.
Few Lines from Geetanjali
- I keep gazing on the far-away gloom of the sky, and my heart wanders wailing with the restless wind.
This line reflects a feeling of despair and restlessness. It captures a moment when the poet, like many of us during hard times, feels lost and overwhelmed by the vast, uncertain future. The “far-away gloom of the sky” symbolizes an unclear, daunting horizon, while the “restless wind” mirrors the emotional turbulence within. - The morning will surely come, the darkness will vanish, and thy voice pour down in golden screams breaking through the sky.This line offers hope and reassurance. The poet reminds us that after every dark night, morning inevitably arrives. The “darkness” symbolizes struggles and despair, but the promise of “thy voice” pouring down in golden light represents divine grace, hope, and renewal. It is an optimistic view of life’s cycles, assuring us that brighter days are ahead.
- This is my delight, thus to wait and watch at the wayside where shadow chases light and the rain comes in the wake of the summer.
This line beautifully portrays the joy of observing life’s transitions. It captures the anticipation and beauty of nature’s rhythm—the interplay of shadow and light, the refreshing rain after summer’s heat. It symbolizes patience, resilience, and the poet’s ability to find delight in life’s constant changes, even amid uncertainty. - There was none in the world who ever saw her face to face, and she remained in her loneliness waiting for thy recognition.
This line speaks of the soul’s solitude and longing for divine acknowledgment. The “she” here represents the poet’s soul, hidden and unseen by the world, waiting for its moment of ultimate fulfillment: to be recognized by the divine. It conveys the deeply personal and sacred nature of spiritual longing, untouched by worldly distractions.
- I came out alone on my way to my tryst. But who is this that follows me in the silent dark?
I move aside to avoid his presence but I escape him not.
He makes the dust rise from the earth with his swagger; he adds his loud voice to every word that I utter.
He is my own little self, my lord, he knows no shame; but I am ashamed to come to thy door in his company.
This passage in Gitanjali captures the internal struggle between the higher self, which seeks spiritual union, and the ego or “little self,” which clings to worldly pride and distractions. The poet expresses frustration at the presence of this ego, which follows him persistently, stirring up dust (symbolizing chaos) and amplifying his words with vanity.
The “little self” lacks shame, representing its unrefined, self-centred nature, while the poet feels deeply ashamed to approach the divine with this flawed aspect of himself. This illustrates the tension many feel when striving for purity and transcendence but being held back by their own imperfections. It is a reflection on humility, self-awareness, and the desire for spiritual growth while wrestling with human flaws.
- I know that the day will come when my sight of this earth shall be lost, and life will take its leave in silence, drawing the last curtain over my eyes.
Yet stars will watch at night, and morning rise as before, and hours heave like sea waves casting up pleasures and pains.
When I think of this end of my moments, the barrier of the moments breaks and I see by the light of death thy world with its careless treasures. Rare is its lowliest seat, rare is its meanest of lives.
Things that I longed for in vain and things that I got—let them pass. Let me but truly possess the things that I ever spurned and overlooked.
In this profound reflection, the poet contemplates the inevitability of death, envisioning the moment when life quietly departs, and the “last curtain” falls over his eyes. While his individual existence will cease, the stars will continue their vigil, mornings will still arrive, and life’s joys and sorrows will ebb and flow like waves. This imagery portrays the continuity of the universe beyond the fleeting nature of human life.
The thought of death brings clarity and a broader perspective. It shatters the illusion of time, revealing the eternal value of the world and its seemingly insignificant treasures. The poet recognizes the rarity and worth of even the simplest lives and experiences, which are often dismissed or ignored.
Finally, he resolves to let go of his unfulfilled desires and fleeting achievements, focusing instead on truly cherishing the overlooked, humble, and essential aspects of existence. This passage encourages us to reflect on life’s transient nature, embrace its inherent beauty, and seek meaning in what is often taken for granted.
These lines from Geetanjali beautifully weave emotions of despair, hope, patience, and spiritual yearning, making them resonate deeply with anyone navigating life’s uncertainties.
Publisher’s opinion on Geetanjali
- A collection of timeless and evergreen poems penned down by the great writer Rabindranath Tagore.A perfect pick for readers who love Tagore’s elegant prose and magical poetry.
The publisher highlights Gitanjali as a treasure trove of poems that remain relevant and impactful across generations. They emphasize Rabindranath Tagore’s mastery in creating elegant prose and poetry, which offers a magical and deeply emotional experience for readers. The description positions the book as an essential choice for those who appreciate literary beauty and profound themes in poetry.
- “Clouds come floating into my life,
no longer to carry rain or usher storm,
but to add color to my sunset sky.”
This quote reflects a positive outlook on life. It suggests that challenges or uncertainties (clouds) are no longer seen as burdens or problems but as opportunities to bring beauty and meaning (colour) to life’s journey, especially during its later stages (sunset sky).
Final Thought
The poems in Geetanjali possess a purity and simplicity that soothe the mind and calm the soul. Their hypnotic structure, with repeated phrases, transforms them into rhythmic chants that draw readers into a meditative state. In the chaos and cruelty of modern life, these poems provide a peaceful escape, acting as spiritual prayers that transport us to stillness, love, and divine connection.
Reading Geetanjali is like entering a sanctuary of words, where each line radiates quiet beauty and touches the heart. They remind us of eternal truths about love, hope, and the divine presence within and around us. These timeless verses nurture the soul, inspire reflection, and reveal beauty and meaning in life’s simplest aspects. In times of despair, Geetanjali serves as a companion and a beacon of light, guiding us back to peace and purpose.
