In this story Rabindranath Tagore begins with some amusing sentences
about the dull, matter of fact character of modern scientific people,
who cannot enjoy a fairy story without asking "Is it true?" The Poet
implies that there are deeper truths than modern science has yet
discovered. The ending of the present story will show this more clearly.
=sovereign truth.=] There is a play upon the word "sovereign" which
can mean "kingly" and also "supreme."
=exacting.=] There is further play here with the words "exact" and
"exacting." "Exact" means precise and "exacting" means making
others precise.
=legendary haze.=] The ancient legends are very obscure, just like an
object seen through a mist.
=knowledge.=] Mere book knowledge,--knowledge of outside things.
=truth.=] Inner truth such as comes from the heart of man and cannot
be reasoned or disputed.
=half past seven.=] The time when his tutor was due.
=no other need.=] As if God would continue the rain merely to keep his
tutor away!
=If not.=] Though it might not have been caused by his prayers, still
for some reason the rain did continue.
=nor did my teacher.=] Supply the words "give up."
=punishment to fit the crime.=] An amusing reference to the doctrine
of _karma_, which states that each deed will have its due reward
or punishment.
=as me.=] Strictly speaking it should be "I" not "me" but he is
writing not too strictly.
=I hope no child.=] The author here amusingly pretends that the
child's way of getting out of his lessons was too shocking for
young boys in the junior school to read about.
=I will marry my daughter to him.=] The verb to "marry" in English can
be used in two senses:--
(1) To wed some one: to take in marriage.
(2) To get some one wedded: to give in marriage.
The later sense is used here.
=in the dawn of some indefinite time.=] In some past existence long
ago.
=If my grandmother were an author.=] Here Rabindranath returns to his
mocking humour. A modern author, he says, would be obliged to
explain all sorts of details in the story.
=hue and cry.=] This is a phrase used for the noise and bustle that is
made when people are searching for a thief.
=Her readers.=] Referring back to the Grandmother.
=in an underhand way.=] Under the disguise of a fairy story.
=grandmother again.=] That is, in the old conditions when people were
not too exacting about accuracy.
=luckless grandson.=] A humorous way of referring to himself. The
author had the misfortune to be born in the modern age of science.
=Seven wings.=] The word "wings" is here used, not for "wings" like
those of birds, but for the sides of a large building, projecting
out at an angle from the main building.
=But what is the use....=] The author here breaks off the story, as
though it were useless to go on any further in these modern days
when every thing has to be scientifically proved.
=Some "what then?"=] Some future existence about which explanations
might be asked.
=no grandmother of a grandmother.=] No one, however old.
=never admits defeat.=] Refuses to believe in death.
=teacherless evening=.] Evening on which the teacher did not come.
=chamber of the great end.=] Death itself is referred to; it is the
end of human life on earth and what is beyond death is shut out
from us.
=incantation.=] Sacred verses or _mantras_.