Gitanjali 63 Summary: Comprehensive & Detailed Study Notes

Gitanjali 63 Summary: This comprehensive and detailed study guide covers every important aspect of the poem – including simple word meanings, a clear line-by-line explanation, themes, poetic devices, textual grammar, MCQs, and important questions–answers. These Gitanjali 63 study notes are prepared using standard academic references along with careful personal interpretation to help students understand the poem easily. Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali (Song Offerings) 63 is a devotional and philosophical poem that explores self-discovery, divine grace, and the soul’s spiritual awakening.

Gitanjali 63 Summary (Short Answer)

Gitanjali 63 is a devotional poem in which Rabindranath Tagore expresses gratitude to God for life, human connections, and spiritual guidance. The poem highlights divine presence in every experience, the soul’s immortality, and the idea that God leads and supports the poet through all change, birth, death, and rebirth.

About the poet

Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) is an Indian poet, short-story writer, playwright, novelist, social reformer, and painter. He mainly wrote in Bengali but gained global recognition for his works.

Tagore also composed the national anthems of India (Jana Gana Mana) and Bangladesh (Amar Sonar Bangla), leaving a lasting impact on both nations.

He was the first non-European to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his profound work Gitanjali (Song Offerings), which played a major role in introducing Indian spirituality to the world.

Rabindranath Tagore’s full biography can be read here on Wikipedia

About the poem

Gitanjali is a collection of 103 devotional poems written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1910 in Bengali. It was later translated into English in 1912.

Tagore received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for Gitanjali, making a significant contribution to world literature and bringing Indian spiritual and philosophical ideas to a global audience.

It highlights the poet’s profound gratitude for divine grace and explores the eternal connection between the human soul and the Almighty.

The poem is written in a reflective and devotional tone, expressing deep spiritual longing and reverence. These qualities also make Gitanjali song offerings 63 one of the most widely discussed poems from the collection.You can also explore more about the Gitanjali collection on Wikipedia’s Gitanjali page

Gitanjali 63 -Word Meanings

Thou – You (archaic, used in poetry and old English)
Hast – Have (archaic)
Uneasy – Uncomfortable, restless
Accustomed shelter – A familiar or known place where human beings are habituated to stay

Abides – Stays, remains
Leadest – Lead (archaic form used for “you lead”)
Endless life – Limitless, eternal life
Linkest – Links, connects (archaic)
Alien – Foreigner, stranger
Bliss – Extreme happiness, spiritual joy
Touch – The divine presence or grace of God
Play of many – The presence of God in many forms

The detailed summary below explains the key ideas, emotions, and spiritual message of Gitanjali 63 in a student-friendly way.

Gitanjali 63 Summary & Analysis in Detail

A Quest for the Divine

In Gitanjali (Song Offerings):63, Rabindranath Tagore expresses deep gratitude to God for gifting him life in this vast universe. Through this divine gift, the poet is able to explore his inner self and experience happiness in the beauty around him.

He thanks God for bringing him into the world and allowing him to form connections with people he previously did not know. God has brought the distant near and transformed strangers into brothers, creating a bond of universal unity.

He further expresses gratitude for everything—fame, love, place, position, and recognition—as all these have made him a beloved figure in the hearts of many. God has placed him in every home by placing him in every heart. These reflections also help readers in understanding the deeper Gitanjali 63 analysis.

Change and God’s Will in Gitanjali (Song Offerings):63

The poet feels uncomfortable and uneasy whenever he has to leave his accustomed shelter. He forgets that all changes occur according to God’s will and that the old also resides within the new through His divine presence.

Here, “accustomed shelter” symbolizes the familiar world of ignorance in which human beings prefer to remain. Tagore recognizes God as an omnipresent, omnipotent force existing in every object of nature and every form of life.

He also highlights the human tendency to fear change. The entire cosmos changes constantly, but human perception is limited, so people wish for everything to remain the same. They often fail to understand their ability to grow beyond their experiences.

According to Tagore, human beings can perceive unknown truths among known realities once they are spiritually awakened.

Belief in Immortality and Rebirth in Gitanjali 63

The poet places great faith in Indian philosophical thought, which teaches the cycle of birth and rebirth. According to this belief, all living beings possess souls, and these souls are part of the supreme soul.

Thus, Tagore believes that his soul is immortal. When he dies, he will leave his physical body, but his soul will enter another body in a new form of existence. God, he believes, will accompany him in every life.

Throughout the endless journey of birth and death, the divine remains a constant support. God knows him eternally; therefore, the Almighty becomes the one companion of his endless life. This understanding enriches the deeper Gitanjali 63 meaning.

Divine Immanence and Joy

When the poet feels connected with God, he experiences freedom wrapped in a thousand bonds of joy. With God guiding him toward enlightenment, he realizes the truth of divine immanence—the idea that God resides within everything in the universe.

This realization helps him discover that God is within him and that every element of existence is an expression of the Divine. Through this awareness, he experiences joy in every life—joy that often feels unfamiliar because it comes from spiritual enlightenment and knowledge of the unknown.

Thus, he always finds a quiet, deep joy within himself—one that is difficult to describe and therefore feels new each time.

Prayer and Self in the Universal

The poet prays to God, requesting that he may never lose the bliss that comes from divine touch. God manifests Himself in countless forms found throughout nature and the universe. For Tagore, the entire universe is the expression of God.

He believes that God is not an abstraction but an all-pervading force that exists in every human soul and every form of nature. God is shown as existing among the simple, humble, and poor.

Tagore expands the idea of the individual self so that it merges with the universal self. His prayer reflects the desire to maintain continual spiritual awareness—a key message often explored in any Gitanjali 63 line by line explanation.

Gitanjali (Song Offerings) 63: Line-by-Line Explanation

Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali (Song Offerings) 63 is a devotional poem exploring divine grace, human relationships, and the constant presence of God. The following explanation breaks down each major idea to help students understand the poem better. This detailed interpretation also supports exam preparation and deeper understanding of Gitanjali song offerings 63.

Gratitude for Divine Connections

“Thou hast made me known to friends whom I knew not…”

The poem opens with Tagore thanking God for enabling him to form bonds with people he had never known before. Through divine guidance, he finds himself welcomed into unfamiliar places.

“Seats in homes not my own” suggests that God’s grace allows him to feel at home even in unknown surroundings. This reflects the idea that human connection is universal.

“Thou hast brought the distant near and made a brother of the stranger” emphasizes unity: God removes distance—physical and emotional—and turns strangers into family.

Theme: Spiritual unity & divine grace.

Overcoming Fear of Change

“I am uneasy at heart when I have to leave my accustomed shelter…”

Tagore acknowledges his discomfort when facing change. “Accustomed shelter” means a familiar comfort zone. Human beings often resist change because it brings uncertainty.

However, Tagore reminds himself that God’s presence remains constant, even when life moves into unfamiliar territory.

“Old in the new” expresses the idea that the divine remains the same, even within new experiences.

Theme: Change, divine presence, inner courage.

Faith in Divine Guidance

“Through birth and death, wherever thou leadest me…”

Tagore expresses unwavering faith in God’s guidance across every phase of life—even beyond life. The phrase reflects the poet’s belief in rebirth and the immortality of the soul.

“The same, the one companion of my endless life…” means God is his eternal companion—life after life.

“Bonds of joy to the unfamiliar” suggests that God turns unknown experiences into joyful ones, transforming fear into discovery.

Theme: Eternal companionship & divine protection.

Unity Through Spiritual Enlightenment

“When one knows thee, then alien there is none…”

Once a person realizes God’s presence, all divisions disappear. No one feels foreign because the divine resides in everyone.

“No door is shut” symbolizes a spiritually awakened mind where there are no barriers—neither emotional nor spiritual.

Theme: Oneness of humanity & divine enlightenment.

The Desire for Divine Awareness

“Grant me my prayer that I may never lose the bliss…”

In the final lines, Tagore prays that he may never lose awareness of God’s presence. “Bliss” refers to deep spiritual joy.

“The one in the play of the many” describes God as the single divine force expressed through the diverse forms of the world.

Theme: Spiritual awareness, divine unity.

Gitanjali (Song Offerings): 63 — Theme, Spirituality & Poetic Devices

Theme

This poem explores several philosophical and spiritual ideas. It highlights devotion, reverence, love, spirituality, and the continuous quest for God. Tagore expresses how divine presence offers solace, satisfaction, and a sense of eternal connection between the human soul and the supreme being.

The poem presents the deep relationship between man and God, focusing on the poet’s devotion and longing for spiritual realization. It reflects the broader vision of the Gitanjali collection and supports a deeper Gitanjali 63 analysis for students and readers.

Tagore also contrasts joyful, personal spirituality with rigid religious practices. He emphasizes devotion, inner awakening, and individual faith instead of external rituals.

Tagore’s View on Spirituality

Tagore’s spirituality is gentle, intimate, and free from rigid rules. His ideas include:

• God as an Inner Presence: The divine is not an external controlling force but a guiding presence within.
• Spiritual Unity: When one realizes God’s presence within, unity, harmony, and peace naturally follow.
• Faith Beyond Rituals: Real spirituality, according to Tagore, is born from love, devotion, and inner awareness, not from strict religious systems.

His poetry beautifully conveys that God is always with us—guiding, comforting, and transforming life with joy and meaning.

Poetic Devices

Tagore uses several poetic devices to enhance the devotional beauty and universal message of the poem. The major devices include:

1. Anaphora

Example: “Thou hast made me known… Thou hast given me seats… Thou hast brought the distant near…”

Effect: Repetition highlights divine blessings and expresses gratitude.

2. Symbolism

Examples:

• “Accustomed shelter” → comfort zone
• “Birth and death” → human existence and spiritual journey
• “No door is shut” → enlightenment and openness

Effect: Symbolizes emotional, spiritual, and universal truths.

3. Metaphor

Example: “The one in the play of the many”

Effect: Represents the presence of one divine force in countless forms.

4. Antithesis

Examples:

• “The distant near”
• “The old in the new”

Effect: Shows transformation through divine presence.

5. Personification

Example: “Thou hast brought the distant near”

Effect: Makes abstract concepts relatable by giving them human-like qualities.

6. Parallelism

Example: “Thou hast made me known… Thou hast given me seats… Thou hast brought the distant near…”

Effect: Strengthens rhythmic flow and emphasizes gratitude.

7. Apostrophe

Example: Direct address to God throughout the poem.

Effect: Creates intimacy and devotional tone.

Gitanjali (Song Offerings): 63 -Question and Answer

Multiple Choice Questions

(a) Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in –

(i) 1910 (ii) 1912 (iii) 1913(iv) 1941

(b) The phrase “endless life” refers to –

(i)life before death (ii)life after death (iii)power of life (iv)unfamiliar life

(c) Tagore was India’s _____ Nobel laureate.

(i) first(ii) second (iii) third (iv) fourth

(d) The phrase “play of many” means–

(i)intermingling of God and man (ii) intermingling of many festivals (iii)game of children (iv) intermingling of many religions

(d)In every birth Tagore is accompanied by –

(i)his friend (ii)his beloved (iii)God(iv) power of soul

(e)In “Gitanjali(Song Offering):63” the poet regards God as his –

(i)companion (ii)his identity (iii)philosopher (iv)teacher

(f) Rabindranath Tagore requests ______ not to leave him alone.

(i)his friends and family (ii)Universal power (iii) his classmates (iv)father

(g) In “Gitanjali(Song Offering):63”, the poet has accepted the power of –

(i)God (ii)humanity (iii)mind (iv)passion

(h)Gitanjali was translated into English in –

(i)1913 (ii)1912 (iii)1941(iv)1902

(i)Gitanjali consists of –

(i)103 poems(ii)108 poems (iii)102 poems (iv)99 poems

(j)In ‘Gitanjali (Song Offerings):63, ‘Thou’ stands for

a) humans b)friend c) Godd)Kafir

Gitanjali 63 Questions and Answers — Short Answers

1. To whom does the poet address in “Gitanjali (Song Offering): 63”?

Ans: The poet addresses God in “Gitanjali (Song Offering): 63”.

2. What does Rabindranath Tagore forget?

Ans: Rabindranath Tagore forgets that the old stays in the new with the same presence of God.

3. When does the poet become uneasy at heart?

Ans: The poet becomes uneasy at heart when he has to leave his accustomed shelter.

4. Where has God given seats to the poet?

Ans: God has given seats to the poet in homes that are not his own.

5. What prayer does the poet request God to grant?

Ans: The poet prays that he may not lose the extreme happiness he feels after experiencing the divine touch of God, who manifests Himself in various forms throughout the universe.

6. Who associates Rabindranath Tagore’s heart with bonds of joy to the unfamiliar?

Ans: The Almighty associates Rabindranath Tagore’s heart with bonds of joy to the unfamiliar.

7. When did Rabindranath Tagore win the Nobel Prize for Literature?

Ans: Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913.

8. When is no one an alien according to Rabindranath Tagore?

Ans: When one knows God, no one is an alien according to Rabindranath Tagore. This idea forms a core part of Gitanjali 63 meaning and the poem’s spiritual message.

9. Who is uneasy at heart?

Ans: The poet, Rabindranath Tagore, is uneasy at heart.

10. Who is one companion of Tagore’s endless life?

Ans: The Almighty is the one companion of Tagore’s endless life.

11. What do you mean by ‘accustomed shelter’?

Ans: The phrase ‘accustomed shelter’ refers to a familiar place where human beings are habituated to stay.

12. What does the word “Gitanjali” mean?

Ans: “Gitanjali” is composed of ‘git’ meaning song and ‘anjali’ meaning offering. Thus, “Gitanjali” means an offering of song.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. What is religious mysticism? How does Tagore express the same in Song Offerings: 63?

Ans: Religious mysticism refers to a deep communion between man (the finite) and God (the infinite). In Gitanjali (Song Offerings): 63, Tagore experiences a mystical realization of God and expresses it through devotional reflections on divine greatness and glory.

According to Tagore, God is one and indivisible. The divine comes to the poet in every life and every moment. This divine light illuminates his soul, while divine music enchants his mind. He experiences supreme joy when he is connected with God, who delights in creating glorious and beautiful forms of life.

God becomes the poet’s constant companion, guiding him toward enlightenment. The poet sees God as omnipotent and omnipresent. Every form of life and every object in nature expresses the divine. Although God is infinite, He manifests Himself in countless finite forms. This understanding forms a crucial part of Gitanjali 63 analysis for students.

2. How does God become the constant companion of the poet?

Ans: The poet regards God as his eternal companion and expresses gratitude for every blessing he has received. He believes everything happens according to God’s will, and all events—people, places, and experiences—are guided by divine intention.

God brought him into the universe and allowed him to form bonds with people he did not previously know. God placed him in homes not his own and brought distant hearts closer, turning strangers into brothers.

The poem conveys a sense of faith and optimism rooted in belief in an all-pervading spirit. According to Tagore, man can overcome despair and suffering by surrendering to God. Divine grace helps the poet realize his true self and recognize that God resides within him.

The poet feels extreme happiness after receiving the divine touch of God, who appears in countless forms throughout the universe. This deep bond between man and the divine is central to Gitanjali 63 questions and answers sections used by students for exams.

3. “Through birth and death, in this world or others, wherever thou leadest me” – Explain.

Ans: Tagore believes in Indian philosophy, which teaches that human beings undergo multiple births. Every living creature has a soul, and all souls are part of the supreme soul. This belief forms the foundation of the spiritual ideas in the Gitanjali 63 Summary.

He believes the soul is immortal. After death, the body perishes, but the soul moves into another body through the cycle of rebirth. God, however, remains constant and accompanies the soul in every lifetime.

Throughout the journey of birth and death, the divine supports and guides him. God knows him eternally, making Him the poet’s constant companion in his endless life and spiritual journey.

4. “Oh, grant me my prayers that I may never lose the bliss of the touch of the one in the play of the many.” — Explain.

Ans: The word “bliss” means extreme happiness. In this line, the poet prays to God that he may never lose the profound joy he feels from experiencing the divine touch.

God manifests Himself in countless forms in the universe — “the play of the many.” Yet, behind this diversity lies the same divine presence, “the one.” Tagore wishes to retain his awareness of this eternal truth.

The poet believes that all phenomena in nature are expressions of the divine. His prayer implies that he wants to remain spiritually awakened so he may continue to experience this blissful awareness. This insight deepens the Gitanjali 63 meaning for students studying the poem.

5. Describe Gitanjali as a devotional poem. / Personal quest for the divine. / Grace of God in the poem.

Ans: In Gitanjali (Song Offerings): 63, the poet glorifies God’s greatness and acknowledges the comfort and belonging he receives through divine grace. God is presented as omnipresent and omnipotent, residing in every soul and every object of nature.

The poet recognizes that everything in the visible universe is a manifestation of the Divine. Although temporary phenomena change, the soul remains eternal. After death, the soul leaves the body but enters another existence with the presence of God.

Tagore sees God as a unifying force, transcending differences of caste, creed, nationality, and identity. Humanity and divinity are not separate; humanity is simply divinity expressed in human form.

Through self-realization, the poet discovers that God dwells within him. The poem also reflects Tagore’s belief that spiritual illumination allows humans to experience unity with the universe, an idea central to the Gitanjali 63 line by line explanation sections students read.

6. How does Tagore alleviate his pain of being ‘uneasy at heart’?

Ans: Tagore feels “uneasy at heart” when he must leave his accustomed shelter — the familiar world of comfort. He forgets that all change occurs through God’s will. The divine remains present even in what is new and unknown.

He believes that God moves the immortal soul from one body to another through the cycle of rebirth. Since God is omnipresent, every soul becomes a temple of God.

By realizing this truth, Tagore discovers that God lives within him. Divine grace enables him to understand people and places he has never known. When God associates his heart “with bonds of joy to the unfamiliar,” the poet finds comfort even in new circumstances.

With spiritual realization, he understands that the entire universe is the visible expression of God. This understanding helps him overcome fear and discomfort, reinforcing the devotional message of Gitanjali song offerings 63.

7. “Every form of life, every object of nature, is an expression of divine.” — Explain.

Ans: According to Tagore, God is omnipresent, and every soul is a temple of the divine. Everything in nature — living beings, objects, experiences — expresses the presence of God.

When the poet realizes God, he simultaneously realizes himself. He discovers that God’s presence is woven into the structure of the universe. Knowledge, spirituality, and human understanding become universal.

Through this spiritual awakening, the poet feels unity with all existence. Every soul is immortal, and every object reflects divine presence. This philosophical idea is crucial for Gitanjali 63 analysis in literature studies.

8. How does Tagore justify the immortality of the soul and its relationship with the Almighty?

Ans: In Gitanjali (Song Offerings): 63, Tagore expresses the idea that death is merely a transition. The body dies, but the soul — being immortal — continues its journey, entering another body through reincarnation.

He believes each birth offers new experiences, new knowledge, and deeper spiritual understanding. The soul is accompanied by God in every lifetime, creating an eternal bond between man and the divine.

God lives in all beings and all forms of nature. Therefore, one who knows God understands everything, because the universe itself is a divine expression. Through all cycles of rebirth, God guides the soul from one form to another, reinforcing the poetic and philosophical themes studied in Gitanjali 63 questions and answers.

9. How has Tagore been successful in establishing a relationship between man and God?

Ans: Tagore expresses profound gratitude for the divine presence in his life. God brings him into relationships with people he never knew and places him in homes not his own. Divine grace turns strangers into brothers.

He understands that all change happens according to God’s will. Through spiritual awakening, he realizes that God lives within him, not outside. God becomes the poet’s constant companion in every form of existence.

Through this realization, all barriers disappear — no person feels unknown, and no place feels foreign. The universe becomes a single home for all human beings.

He believes the soul is immortal, traveling through many lives with God’s eternal presence. This unchanging divine companionship captures the essence of Gitanjali 63 meaning and shapes Tagore’s devotional worldview.

Textual Grammar

Do as directed

1) Correct the errors

Sentence:
Thou hast made me known with friends whom I knew not.

Corrected:
Thou hast made me known to friends whom I knew not.

2) Join into a compound sentence

Sentences:
I am uneasy at heart. I have to leave my accustomed shelter.

Compound Sentence:
I have to leave my accustomed shelter, so I am uneasy at heart.

3) Split into two simple sentences

Sentence:
Thou hast given me seats in homes not my own.

Split Sentences:
Thou hast given me seats in homes.
They are not my own.

4) Change the narration

Sentence:
The poet says, “I am uneasy at heart when I have to leave my accustomed shelter.”

Changed:
The poet says that he is uneasy at heart when he has to leave his accustomed shelter.

5) Correct the errors

Sentence:
I may never lose the bliss of the touch of the one in the play of the many.

Corrected:
I may never lose the bliss of the touch of the one in the play of the many.

6) Join into a complex sentence

Sentences:
I am uneasy at heart. I have to leave my accustomed shelter.

I am uneasy at heart because I have to leave my accustomed shelter.

Conclusion: The Spiritual Essence of Gitanjali 63

Gitanjali 63 is a beautiful reflection on spiritual unity, divine grace, and the ongoing journey of faith. Through this poem, Tagore invites us to understand how God’s presence helps us overcome challenges, find joy in the unfamiliar, and see the unity in all of life.

This poem is a call to embrace the divine connection that binds us all, no matter where we go or what changes we face.
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Gitanjali 63 is a deeply philosophical and mystical poem that portrays Tagore’s surrender to the divine, his appreciation of human unity, and his quest for spiritual fulfillment. He emphasizes that:

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