Question

What does the poet mean by the exprssions the root of penury

Answer 1

In Song 36, Tagore describes the cry of every Hindu penitent. The song is a prayer to transcend the earthly soul through a wholehearted surrender to God. Tagore prays that God will strike at the root of "penury" in his heart. This "penury," or spiritual poverty, originates from the elevation of Self.