Skip to main content

I Know Not ……… by Rabindranath Tagore (Poem & Summary)

 

I Know Not ………

by Rabindranath Tagore

(Poem & Summary) 

This is the 46th poem of Tagore’s Gitanjali. The poem captures the anticipation and longing for an unknown presence that draws closer with each passing day. The speaker acknowledges the inability of celestial bodies to conceal this presence, which continually approaches. The footsteps and messages of this mysterious entity have reached the speaker's heart, beckoning them in secrecy. Today, the speaker's life is filled with a vibrant sense of excitement and joyful trembling. They sense a subtle fragrance of this enigmatic being in the air, as if the moment has arrived to conclude their endeavors. The poem exudes a sense of profound expectation and an ineffable connection to an unseen force.

I know not from what

I know not from what distant time thou art ever coming nearer to meet me. Thy sun and stars can never keep thee hidden from me for aye.

In many a morning and eve thy footsteps have been heard and thy messenger has come within my heart and called me in secret.

I know not why to-day my life is all astir, and a feeling of tremulous joy is passing through my heart.

It is as if the time were come to wind up my work, and I feel in the air a faint smell of thy sweet presence.

Summary

The poem delves into the notion of God's omnipresence once more. The poet acknowledges that he cannot determine when God began visiting him, emphasizing that even the magnificence of God's creations, like the sun and stars, cannot obstruct his perception of the divine.

During numerous mornings and evenings, the poet has discerned God's footsteps, and even His messenger has whispered the message of unity directly into his heart, in secrecy. Perplexed, the poet finds himself unusually exhilarated on this particular day, his heart brimming with immense delight and anticipation. It appears to the poet that the moment has arrived to conclude his work, sensing the gentle aroma of God permeating the air.

Once again, Tagore revisits the theme explored in the preceding poem. He delves into the continuous presence of God among His devotees, emphasizing that God is always with humanity, both in the past and the future, transcending time and space. In accordance with Hindu religious beliefs, Tagore asserts that the pursuit of God through external means is futile; instead, one should seek God within oneself, as the divine resides within each individual. Tagore also extols the magnificence of God as the creator of nature, asserting that even the grandeur of celestial bodies like the sun and stars cannot obscure God's presence or deceive the seeker.

The poet, having heard God's calling on numerous occasions, has experienced immense joy and contentment. He feels compelled to complete his work in order to enter into communion with God. The underlying message conveyed is that humans must relinquish worldly attachments to attain a spiritual union with God.

In this poem, the doctrine of humanism reaches its pinnacle. The poet highlights the significance and greatness of humanity, asserting that man is an embodiment of God. It is not solely man who seeks to meet God, but God also yearns for man's love, care, and affection. In Hinduism, it is believed that the worship and devotion of man enhance God's power. However, Tagore presents a different interpretation, acknowledging that when God was alone, He could not truly perceive Himself. The aspirations of both man and God intertwine, for in the absence of man, the purpose of God's creation remains unfulfilled. Thus, it is not solely man who repeatedly reincarnates to achieve perfection and reunite with the divine, but from time immemorial, God has been drawing closer to man, seeking to meet him. The sun and stars, rather than concealing God, serve as His gifts to mortals. He has illuminated the celestial lights of the sun, moon, and stars for the sake of beholding humanity.

Labels:
Location: India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The World is Too Much with Us by William Wordsworth (Poem, Summary & Analysis)

The World is Too Much with Us by William Wordsworth ( Poem,  Summary & Analysis)     William Wordsworth was born on 7th of April, 1770 at Cockermouth. His father was John Wordsworth and mother was Anne Cookson. He was second of the five children of his parents, the others being Richard, Dorothy, John and Christopher. He was educated at Hawkshead Grammar School and St. John College, Cambridge from where he did his B.A. in 1791. He went to France in 1791 and stayed there for a period of one year. During this time he was greatly influenced by the French Revolution which was at its peak at that time in France. He published his first volume of poems in 1793. In 1795 he got a chance to meet S.T. Coleridge and soon they became life time friends. Wordsworth along with his sister, Dorothy and S.T. Coleridge with his wife were neighbours to each other at Alfoxden and Stowey in Somerset for one year. In 1798, both the poets together published Lyrical Ballads which is consi...
Post a Comment
Read more

To Nature by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Poem, Summary, & Analysis)

  To Nature by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Poem, Summary, & Analysis)   To Nature   It may indeed be fantasy when I Essay to draw from all created things Deep, heartfelt, inward joy that closely clings; And trace in leaves and flowers that round me lie Lessons of love and earnest piety. So let it be; and if the wide world rings In mock of this belief, it brings Nor fear, nor grief, nor vain perplexity. So will I build my altar in the fields, And the blue sky my fretted dome shall be, And the sweet fragrance that the wild flower yields Shall be the incense I will yield to Thee, Thee only God! and thou shalt not despise Even me, the priest of this poor sacrifice.   Summary The speaker begins by acknowledging that it might seem like a fantasy when he attempts to find deep, sincere, and inward joy in all created things. He tries to draw emotional and spiritual satisfaction from the natural world around him—such as leaves and flo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chandalika by Rabindranath Tagore (Summary & Analysis)

  Chandalika by Rabindranath Tagore (Summary & Analysis)   Rabindranath Tagore was a remarkable and multi-talented Indian personality who lived during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a poet, philosopher, artist, musician, and playwright. Tagore was born in 1861 in Calcutta, India, and he came from a family of intellectuals and artists. He is widely celebrated for his contributions to literature and culture. Tagore's writing is known for its deep and insightful exploration of human emotions, nature, and spirituality. He wrote beautiful poems, stories, and songs that continue to inspire people even today. His most famous work is the poem "Gitanjali," which earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. This award made him the first non-European to receive such an honor. Beyond his writing, Tagore also played a significant role in India's struggle for independence from British rule. He used his creative talents to raise awareness about s...
Post a Comment
Read more