Thy gifts to us mortals fulfil all our needs (Song 75) by Rabindranath Tagore

 

Thy gifts to us mortals fulfil all our needs (Song 75) by Rabindranath Tagore 

Thy gifts to us mortals fulfil all our needs and yet run back to thee un-diminished.

The river has its everyday work to do and hastens through fields and hamlets; yet its incessant stream winds towards the washing of thy feet.

The flower sweetens the air with its perfume; yet its last service is to offer itself to thee.

Thy worship does not impoverish the world.

From the words of the poet men take what meanings please them; yet their last meaning points to thee.

Thy gifts to us mortals fulfil all our needs and yet run back to thee un-diminished.

 

The poet says that everything in the world is made by God and eventually returns to Him. God's gifts to humans are endless—they keep helping us and go back to God without losing anything. Like a river flowing through villages and fields, sharing water without running dry, these gifts keep moving. The river continues until it reaches the sea, never stopping its journey. Flowers, too, make the air smell sweet but eventually wither, offering their last essence back to God. This shows that the soul, which comes from God, fulfills its purpose and then returns to Him.

Worshipping God doesn’t take anything away, not from the river, the flowers, or even the poet who sings for God, even if others may not understand this truth.

The poem describes how creation began in a magical way. God made everything for a purpose, and one day, all will return to Him. The Upanishads say, "From God come the oceans, mountains, rivers, plants, and the energies that help the soul live in the physical world."

Through simple images, the poem explains spiritual ideas. The flower represents God’s energy and generosity. The river symbolizes life, always moving forward. When it reaches the sea, it reflects how our souls are meant to reconnect with the eternal, universal soul.

"Your gifts to us fulfill all our needs and flow back to You undiminished. The river does its daily work in fields and villages, yet its constant stream leads to the washing of Your feet."

The poet highlights an essential truth: everything originates from the universal soul and belongs to it. Each part of nature, whether rivers, flowers, sunlight, or wind, has a role to play and ultimately returns to God. Just as the river nourishes the land before joining the sea, humans, too, are part of the universal soul and will return to their source after living with kindness, love, and spirituality.