When the warriors came out first from their master's hall (song 85) by Rabindranath Tagore
When
the warriors came out first from their master's hall, where had they hid their
power? Where were their armour and their arms?
They
looked poor and helpless, and the arrows were showered upon them on the day
they came out from their master's hall.
When
the warriors marched back again to their master's hall where did they hide
their power?
They
had dropped the sword and dropped the bow and the arrow; peace was on their
foreheads, and they had left the fruits of their life behind them on the day
they marched back again to their master's hall.
When
the warriors came out first from their master's hall, where had they hid their
power? Where were their armour and their arms?
Life
on earth is brief and filled with challenges. Eternal peace, however, lasts
forever and can only be found in God’s home, far beyond this world. The
"warriors" refer to those believed to come from God's own dwelling
place. This lyric explores the true origins of humans. The poet suggests that,
when these beings arrive on earth, they appear weak and vulnerable. The poem’s
style is simple and relaxed, much like in John Donne’s poetry where he writes:
"Where
were their armour and their arms?"
The
poet compares the earth to a battlefield and people to warriors. The moment
someone steps onto this battlefield, their struggles begin. Though they have
weapons, they lack the strength to defend against life’s challenges like
sadness, pain, danger, and hardship. When their time on earth is over, they
return to their Master’s house in heaven, with peaceful faces. They leave
behind all the worldly riches they worked so hard to gain.
In
the poem, symbols are used to convey a deeper message: heaven is like the
Master's house, humans are warriors, and arrows represent life's pains and
struggles. As people face these challenges, they grow weary and weak. They put
effort into earning money and possessions, but when the Master's call comes,
they leave everything behind with peace in their hearts. The poem teaches that
worldly wealth has no value in the end. There’s no need to fear death because
it reunites loved ones with God and offers a peaceful conclusion to life.
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