Also Read
At this time of my parting, wish me good luck, my friends! The sky is flushed with the
dawn and my path lies beautiful.
Ask not what I have with me to take there. I start on my journey with empty hands and expectant heart.
I shall put on my wedding garland. Mine is not the red-brown dress of the traveller, and though there are dangers on the way I have no fear in my mind.
The evening star will come out when my voyage is done and the plaintive notes of the twilight melodies be struck up from the King's gateway.
 |
| Gitanjali Poem no. 94 |
Summary
The poet sings the same song. Now after the welcome of death, the acceptance of summons of death he now prepares to embark on his last journey. He pleas his friends to wish him good luck for this holy voyage. The path of his voyage to the immortality is very beautiful. The man goes to this spiritual voyage with empty hands and an expectation in heart. The earthly possessions are left behind. The hollowness of all these materialistic possessions is in reflection through his words. The traveller has an expectation to meet his Lord, the aim of union with eternal soul is in his heart. The poet adorns himself with a wedding garland as if he is going for a festive, auspicious and rejoicing occasion. He is not in a red-brown dress of sadhu-sant, the wardrobe of renunciation. He is ready to face the dangers if they come in his way. He is steadfast and brave, The wish for eternal life makes his heart devoid of all fears. He is sure that after those dangers his succes would be celebrated by the evening star and the welcome music.
Critical Analysis
Dispossessed completely of all worldly possessions and with an expectant heart the soul of the poet will reach him. The poet will not go in red-brown dress, a mark of renunciation. The poet will go to the Lord in wedding robes. Death is thus an auspicious event that will unite the soul with supreme. The poet doesn't speak of death with painful and gloomy aspects but he takes it as an expectation to meet his ultimate fulfillment with a warm welcome by the evening star.
"I shall put on my wedding garland, Mine is not the red browndress of the traveller, and though there are dangers on the way I have no fear in my mind."
The journey to the way of heavenly abode is celebrated in these lines. He says that out of all fears he will visit his amorous path. The union with death is an auspicious event because that will unite the soul with the supreme. That is why he is adorned with wedding robes, garland rather than red-brown dress, a symbol of renunciation. Tagore believes that only the birth in the human form makes us close to the Divine so we should love this life, respect it rather than accepting it as an oblivion, renounce it for spiritual voyage. He will have to face dangers and difficulties but his fix determination will overcome all this and he will go fearlessly, He will meet his bride and would be welcomed at the end of this ecstatic journey.
Annotations
Flushed: red in colour. Expectant: full of expectation. Evening star: The planet venus, the most beautiful in the universe. Plaintive: melancholy Twilight: dim-light.