Brahma
Emerson in his poem "Brahma" brings forth the doctine of absolute unity.Here we find the thought of Soul being united with the Over Soul(The Almighty).In this poem, Emerson refers the strong gods to Indra,God of sky and wielder of thunderbolt; Agni, the God of fire; and Yama, the God of death and judgement.The sacred seven refers to the Maharishis .He brings out the Hindu Belief that souls which attain to Brahma(Oversoul) are freed from returning to life.Brahma
If the red slayer think he slays,
or if the slain think he is slain,
They know not well the subtle ways
I keep, and pass, and turn again.
Far or forgot to me is near;
Shadow and sunlight are the same;
The vanished gods to me appear;
And one to me are shame and fame.
They reckon ill who leave me out;
When me they fly, Iam the wings;
Iam the doubter and the doubt,
And I the hymn and the brahmin sings.
The strong gods pine for my abode,
And pine in vain the sacred seven,
But thou, meek lover of the good!
Fine me, and turn thy back on heaven
- Emerson.
posted by Gayathri Chandrashekar @ 7:06 AM
3 Comments:
The explanation was pretty helpful.Would have never figured out what the last stanza meant otherwise.Though personally I like the first satanza the most,perhpas for the sound of it.
The whole poem is sound in its thought.To my understanding last stanza concludes with the theme of the poem(Refinement and getting united with the oversoul).Emerson comes out with the thought that Gods strive for us to place us with them in heaven.
If one man thinks he slays and another fears he
can be slain, then neither knows the paths of Truth.
For the Truth can never be extinguished. That which
was never born blows easy and forever through Eternity.
Bhagavad-Gītā : Text 81
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