Fruit Gathering (from Gitanjali) by Rabindranath Tagore - Poem Explanation

The poem "Fruit-Gathering" by Rabindranath Tagore, is a poem number 12 from the collection Gitanjali. The poem deals with the theme of divine love, that is eternal in the materialistic world where mortality is inevitable. Tagore, through Tulsidas, denounces the practice of "sati", prevalent in India since ages. 

Tagore advocates belief in divine love, as all forms of love is transitory. Devotion towards God helped the widow to live after the heavy blow of her husband's death. She lost her reason to live, it's only after Tulsidas' teaching, she found something to live for as she found God is with her. 

Explanation

The speaker narrates an anecdote of noted spiritual figure and poet, Tulsidas. Tulsidas was walking by the river Ganges, engrossed in his pondrings or deep thoughts. He was walking near the spot where dead bodies were cremated.

He came across a woman, dressed in her bridal dress, sat near the corpse of her dead husband. According to sati practice, a widow has to sacrifice herself in a pyre where her husband's corpse is cremated. 

The woman saw Tulsidas approaching towards her, so she got up and asked him for his blessings before she could accompany her dead husband to heaven, i.e., sacrifice herself as a sati to be with her husband in afterlife.

The sagacious Tulsidas urged her not to hurry for such a harsh step, he asked her whether the earth is not a creation of the Almighty, just as He created Heaven.

She replied that she didn't wish to attain heaven, she just wanted to be with her husband.

Tulsidas understood her fresh grief and told her to return her home and she would get back her husband in a month.

Tulsidas sent her home with consolation and optimism. He visited her every day and taught and instill in her the divine truth.

When the month almost ended, her neighbours began asking her whether she had got her husband back. She, finally understood, replied that she did. She shared the love for God and that He resides with her, in her heart.