GOVINDA'S DISCIPLE
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THEME OF THE POEM.*
The tendency to consider material possessions as more important than spiritual values.
In the poem, Raghunath(Govinda's disciple) is shown to have a very materialistic nature. He shows
that he values the guru and his teachings more than the expensive bangles. But his true nature is
seen when guru Govinda throws the bangle in the river. The poem shows us how much people value
their wealth in life.
Govinda teaches a lesson to his disciple and makes him realize that he was only satisfying his ego
and not showing real selfless regard for his guru.
Govinda’s Disciple central idea revolves around the renunciation of one’s attachment to material
possessions to create space for divinity to enter our minds and make it fertile for spiritual endeavours. Human’s pursuit for wealth and the value we attach to materialistic things act as the biggest impediment on our paths for spiritual attainment. Disciples like Raghunath, whose minds are still occupied with wealth and luxuries, can never achieve clarity on their real divine purpose in life, for they are too busy amassing and showing off wealth. In this poem, the great Sikh guru Govinda by throwing his gift of bangles into the river offers a profound lesson to such inauthentic disciples who are still struggling with materialism’s hold over their minds and lives.
*WHAT ARE POETIC DEVICES ? - Poetic devices are a form of literary device used in poetry. They are essentially tools that a poet uses to create rhythm, enhance a poem's meaning, or intensify a mood or feeling.
POETIC DEVICES USED IN THE POEM - GOVINDA'S DISCIPLE
PERSONIFICATION
The act of giving a human quality or characteristic to somethis which is not human.
Examples : Far below flowed the Jumna, swift and clear, above frowned the jutting bank
"...the water held and hid what it stole and went its way"
"....the diamonds darted shafts of light "
IMAGERY
The poem also uses imagery, which means description using the five senses. We can see the wooded hills around the river and the bejeweled gold bangles set with diamonds brought by the rich disciple. We can picture the teacher calmly reading his book by the river as the disciple desperately searches the river for his bangle.
PARADOX
This poem also uses paradox to make its point. When, as the sun is setting, the disciple begs his teacher to find his bangle for him, the teacher does the opposite of what the disciple expects. The teacher, instead of going into the river and helping him recover the costly piece of jewelry, throws the other bangle in the river and tells him the first one is where the second one is.
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