A Psalm of Life

Word meanings 

psalm : sacred song. The title suggests the solemnity of the theme. (ସଂହିତା ଗୀତ)
mournful numbers : sad verses (ଦୁଃଖପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ କରିବା )
empty dream : a meaninglèss dream giving no satisfaction, unreal thing (ଅର୍ଥହୀନ ସ୍ବପ୍ନ)
soul : the soul …. slumbers : the life of an idle man is useless
slumbers : sleeps (here remains idle) (ଅଳସୁଆ)
And …. seem : It is reminiscent of Clough’s ‘Say Not the struggle Naught Avai leth.’ if hopes were dupes, years may be liars; It may be, in you smoke concealed, Your comrades chase e ‘en now the fliers, And, but for you, possess the field.
earnest : full of seriousness not an empty dream to be treated . This positive assertion of the poet strikes lightly the key note of the poem : Death is not life’s end.
And goal : a quotation from the Bible (ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ଜୀବନର ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ ନୁହେଁ)
Dust returnest : a quotation from the Bible regarding the mortality of the human body (ଜୀବନ ମରଣଶୀଳ)
Art : the creation or the expression of the beautiful
stout : strong
muffled drums : the sound of drums made dull by wrapping them in cloth. At funerals, drums are thus muffled to suit the solemn occasion.
marches : music for marching to.The poet has in mind a march for the dead
bivouac : temporary camp for troops without tents or other cover
dumb : unable to speak. Here the word also means stupid and dull. The images of the ‘dumb, driven cattle’ suggests meek submissiveness.
Be a hero … strife!: The poet is overtly didactic
strife : fight (ସଂଘର୍ଷ)
trust : rely (ବିଶ୍ଵାସ କରିବା )
pleasant : fine (ସୁନ୍ଦର)
bury : here forget (ଭୁଲିଯିବା)
Let dead ! : put away what is past and forget the same (ଅତୀତକୁ ଭୁଲିଯାଅ)
Act Present !: Here the poet lays emphäsis on action. The word ‘living’ sounds signifies it. (ବର୍ଷ ମାନ ସମୟକୁ ନଷ୍ଟ ନ କରି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରିଯାଅ ।)
Heart within and God o’erhead! : with courage in your heart and faith in God (ଓ ଭଗବାନଙ୍କଠାରେ ବିଶ୍ଵାସ ରଖ)
sublime : noble (ମହତ୍)
departing : on leaving this world: dying
footprints : our noble works that will show the way to others
solemn : impressive in its awe inspiring vastness and depth
main : ocean
forlorn : unhappy and deserted
forlorn … brother: one who has failed in life and is distressed at one’s own moral and material ruin (ଅସଫଳତା ପାଇଁ ଭାଙ୍ଗିପଡ଼ିବା)
shipwrecked : utterly ruined by misfortune (ଦୁର୍ଦ୍ଦଶାଗ୍ରସ୍ତ)
take heart : be confident
heart for any fate: confidence to face any situation in life, favourable or unfavourable (କରିବାପାଇଁ ଦୃଢ଼ ମନୋବଳ)
still : always (ସର୍ବଦା)

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