Govinda's Disciple by Rabindranath Tagore - Essay

Introduction

"Govinda's Disciple" is a poem by Rabindranath Tagore that explores the relationship between a guru, Govinda, and his disciple, Ragunath. The poem emphasizes the importance of spiritualism and how materialism can create a barrier to achieving it. The poem is a powerful commentary on the relationship between a guru and his disciple, and how a guru ought to teach hard lessons to facilitate the spiritual pursuits of his students. 

Summary

The poem begins with Raghunath, Govinda's disciple, presenting him with a pair of gold bangles as a gift. Govinda throws the bangles into the river, and Raghunath jumps in after them to retrieve them. He is unable to find them, and Govinda explains that materialism creates a barrier to spiritualism. The poem concludes with Govinda teaching Raghunath the importance of spiritualism. The poem is a powerful commentary on the importance of spiritualism and how materialism can create a barrier to achieving it. 

Analysis

The relationship between a guru and his disciple is a sacred bond central to the success of any spiritual endeavor. For a guru to help his disciple truly, he needs to have transcended the hold that the material world has on each of us humans. Spiritual attainment can only be possible if the attachment to the material world is renounced – a worldview and lifestyle that is easier spoken about in scriptures than implemented in real life. It is then the guru’s job to engrain this difficult lesson into the psyche of their students. In this respect, Govinda’s Disciple is a powerful poem, for it shows how a guru ought to teach hard lessons to facilitate the spiritual pursuits of his students. 

The poem also highlights the importance of experience over words. Govinda could have explained in words to his disciple that material possessions are not the way to divinity but hindrances to one’s pursuit of the same. However, Govinda let his actions speak louder than his words. He wanted Raghunath to experience the pain of losing wealth to help him transcend his need for the same. By literally throwing the bangles away, Govinda, in the most effective figurative way, taught his student that he too should drown in the water his ties to the material world. 

The poem is a powerful commentary on the importance of spiritualism and how materialism can create a barrier to achieving it. It is a poem that teaches us the importance of spiritualism and how materialism can create a barrier to achieving it. The poem emphasizes the sacred bond between a guru and his disciple and how a guru ought to teach hard lessons to facilitate the spiritual pursuits of his students. The poem also highlights the importance of experience over words. It is a powerful poem that has relevance even today, where capitalism has polluted spiritual leaders, and the lesson taught by this poem is highly relevant. 

Conclusion

"Govinda's Disciple" is a poem that teaches us the importance of spiritualism and how materialism can create a barrier to achieving it. The poem emphasizes the sacred bond between a guru and his disciple and how a guru ought to teach hard lessons to facilitate the spiritual pursuits of his students. The poem also highlights the importance of experience over words. It is a powerful poem that has relevance even today, where capitalism has polluted spiritual leaders, and the lesson taught by this poem is highly relevant. The poem is a powerful commentary on the importance of spiritualism and how materialism can create a barrier to achieving it. It is a poem that teaches us the importance of spiritualism and how materialism can create a barrier to achieving it.