Write the substance and explanation of the poem entitled Fruit

Write the substance and explanation of the poem entitled Fruit Gathering Poem No. 12: Far Below Flowed.

Ans.

Substance of the Poem

The great Sikh saint and teacher Guru Govind Singh, sat on the rock on the river bank reading scriptures. His disciple Raghunath who was proud of his wealth brought to him his precious jewellery and requested him to accept that though it was not worth of his acceptance. The master took up one of the two bangles studded with gems and began to twirl it round his finger. Suddenly it fell into the river. Raghunath at once jumped into the river and made all possible efforts to find the bangle. Disappointed Raghunath returned to the teacher and said to him that he could find out the bangle, if he only told him where he dropped the bangle. The teacher took the other bangle and dropping it into the water he said, he dropped the first bangle there.

Explanations

(1) Far below flowed the Jumna, swift and clear, above frowned the jutting bank.

Hills dark with the woods and scarred with the torrents were gathered around.

Govinda, the great Sikh teacher, sat on the rock reading scriptures, when Raghunath, his disciple, proud of his wealth, came and bowed to him and said, “I have brought my poor present unworthy of your acceptance.”

Reference to the Context: These are the opening lines of poem No. 12. in Rabindranath Tagore’s famous poetic collection ‘Gitanjali’.

This poem tells a moral from the life of the Sikh saint Guru Govind. It shows that great man does not give any importance to worldly things howsoever precious thy may.

Explanation: Guru Govind Singh sat on steepy rocking bank overlooking the river. The swift and powerful river water cuts it path through the forest. The Guru was reading his religious book. Just then, his disciple Raghunath who was proud of his wealth, brought his jewellery to him. He bowed to the teacher and said respectfully that he had brought a present to him as a gift. He requested the teacher to accept his present, though he knew that it was not worthy of his acceptance.

Note: The first two lines depict a beautiful word picture of the river and the woods on its banks.

(2) The teacher set his eyes upon his book, and the water held and hid what it stole and went its way.

The daylight faded when Raghunath came back to the teacher tired and dripping.

He panted and said, “I can still get it back if you show me where it fell.”

The teacher took up the remaining bangle and throwing it into the water said, “It is there.”

Reference to the Context: As above. Raghunath tried his best to search for the lost bangle but he could not find it. Disappointed, he came back to the teacher in the evening.

Explanation: Raghunath jumped into the river to find his costly bangle, but the teacher paid not the least attention to it. Nor did he express any sorrow he busied himself with the study of his religious book and the current of the river water flowed the bangle away. In spite of making his best efforts Raghunath could not find the bangle. He was disappointed and returned to the master in the evening. He was tired, dejected and fully drenched. He said to the teacher that he could still get back the bangle if he (the master) pointed to him the spot where the bangle fall. Hearing this the teacher took up the other bangle and dropping into the water, he said that it (the bangle) fell there.

Comments: It shows that the teacher was not the least impressed with Raghunath’s worldly possession.