Thy gifts to us mortals fulfil all our needs (Song 75) by Rabindranath Tagore (Poem, Summary & Analysis)

 

Thy gifts to us mortals fulfil all our needs (Song 75) by Rabindranath Tagore (Poem, Summary & Analysis) 

Thy gifts to us mortals fulfil all our needs and yet run back to thee un-diminished.

The river has its everyday work to do and hastens through fields and hamlets; yet its incessant stream winds towards the washing of thy feet.

The flower sweetens the air with its perfume; yet its last service is to offer itself to thee.

Thy worship does not impoverish the world.

From the words of the poet men take what meanings please them; yet their last meaning points to thee.

Thy gifts to us mortals fulfil all our needs and yet run back to thee un-diminished.

 

Summary

The poet says that everything in God's creation comes from Him and returns to Him. God's gifts to humans never run out. These gifts help people and go back to God without losing anything. The river flows through villages and fields, giving water without getting smaller. It keeps flowing until it reaches the sea. The flower makes the air smell sweet but eventually dies, giving its last gift to God. The poet wants to show that the soul comes from God, completes its purpose, and then returns to Him.

Worshipping God does not take anything away from anyone—not from the river, the flower, or the poet who sings for God, even if others may not see it that way.

 

Critical Analysis

This poem talks about the magical start of creation. God makes everything with a purpose, and later, everything returns to Him. The Upanishad says: "From God come the oceans, mountains, rivers, plants, and the juices that help the soul live inside the physical world."

The poem uses clear pictures to show spiritual ideas. The flower represents God's energy and willingness to give. The river stands for life, always flowing. When the river joins the sea, it shows how our souls connect with the eternal, universal soul.

"Thy gift to us mortals fulfil all our needs and yet run back to thee undiminished. The river has its everyday work to do and hastens through fields and hamlets; yet its incessant stream winds towards the washing of thy feet."

The idea of realization appears often here. The poet talks about a basic truth: everything comes from the universal soul, and is a part of it. Everything has a role to play, and after that, it returns to God. Nature—like rivers, flowers, light, and wind—comes from the all-powerful God. For example, a river helps make the land fertile, then goes back to God. In the same way, humans are part of the universal soul and will return to their origin after living a life of kindness, love, and spirituality.