Who Belongs to Whom? A Deep Reflection on Life, Relationships, and Karma

In this challenging world, who belongs to whom?

The poet-guru Rabindranath spoke these words: in this world, who belongs to whom?
Even the greatest of great souls have uttered this: here, who belongs to whom?
Bookish knowledge and worldly wisdom have taught me too: here we all, who belongs to whom?
This question weighs heavily—how many have sought its answer, who belongs to whom here?

To understand this world itself is a relentless struggle,
Living here has become a mighty struggle, who seeks the truth,
Who tells whom, in these relations, who belongs to whom?
Who belongs to whom here? This question is deeply tangled,
The mightiest of the mighty have worn themselves out; perhaps they found the answer to this question,
The world is a game, a spectacle—everyone plays their role, yet despair lingers,
Who belongs to whom here—perhaps even those folks couldn't grasp its answer.

Seeking life's answers, seeking bonds with one another,
For billions of years, the stream of life has flowed on,
Who has clutched the answer to this question in hand?
Life is a flowing stream; it will drift through endless time,
The great sages have said: the knot of karma is a firm tie, never to be undone.

Ever pondered these words—why were you born here,
Why perform your duties, why fulfil relations and kin, upholding your dharma?
Why build this beautiful home, why endure the toil,
Good deeds, bad deeds—they weigh us down here, they forge our bonds,
Paying the instalments of karma, the debt of actions, all set off on their paths.

The tale is long—birth after birth, who remembers what in this journey?
This is the soul's voyage—if human today, what of time's wheel!
Dying weighs more than living, suffering more than joy,
Does anyone hold a wand of bliss? Everyone swings their own rod,
The wise have seen this truth: here, what bond with whom?

In human life, the rope of bondage—for some tightly knotted, for others loosely tied, for others a loose thread,

For some, the obsession with iron took hold; others just churned the depths,
Some bonds rolled on, others spent lifetimes in churning,
Few have grasped life's rhythm; some follow their own mind,
Look at the crowd of people—rarely does anyone churn life's essence.

Everyone guards their words; one does something, another drags something along,
I've seen life's iron chains, moment by moment, hardships unfold,
Wandering wayfarers I've seen—who knows what befalls them,
Who knows what news a single moment brings here, who gives company to whom,
I've seen their hands—empty-handed they came, what they earned, they took away with them.

What's the news of life here—journeys of some mired in hardship,
What's the news of the alert and wise— in the throng of people, who takes whose account?
People who've passed through eras of struggle, people spread in mourning over death's tidings,
Some have moved ahead, some linger in wait for defeat,
In tale upon tales, they asked one another: here, who belongs to whom.

In the crowded market's clamour, self-interest has turned all toward their own,
Who wishes well to whom— at day's end, all head homeward,
One's gain, another's loss—some stake on the next,
One's hope, another's despair—some grasped that wager,
A few play masterfully—perhaps someone asks, whose wager points to whom.

Many have bartered here—some call it the market of the worldly sea,
Some filled up and left, some stood with empty hands,
Some found life's meaning, some remained gamblers,
In the market of the worldly sea, some depart with full hands, some with empty,
All return homeward—who asks after whom for whose sake,
The worldly sea's game and spectacle—says the Lord, who crosses from here.

In the world, all have kept their roles; everyone holds life's price.
Some recall this truth: the world is a maze of illusions,
All play their roles truly—who makes amends for whom,
Here, everyone plays their role truly, yet all the world's deeds are false,
In the worldly sea's market, who is the true gambler?

The worldly sea's game and spectacle—who wishes well to whom,
One's loss, another's win—one's gain, another's loss,
One's hope, another's ruin—here, winning means more than living,
The bargain of victory is a grand stake, the victors boast grandly,
Victors never ask: here, who belongs to whom,
This is life's essence here—I've seen a long queue of the defeated.

In life here, endless expectations—without fighting, what hope for victory?
In this battle, who belongs to whom—this wager is each one's own,
Loss is one's own, win is one's own—sometimes defeat, sometimes a wound of one's own,
No one applies balm to another's—no, defeat is defeat, or this win too is one's own,
Ponder it, friend—here no one is anyone's, this life's journey is one's own too.

Here, who travels with whom—life holds many hues,
When joy's colours spread, new fervour sweeps through the people,
When blows strike life, people deal their own defeats,
People show their colours—then it dawns: this journey is so colourless,
The great sages have said: came alone, go alone—who with whom?

In the fair of the worldly sea, whose loss and whose win—who loves whom,
All here is hollow—everyone here is alone,
Who grasps the worth of life here—the victors' words people heed,
But what's the worth of the defeated in the worldly sea's market, without win, what's worth!
Who comprehends this truth—in this strange game of the world, everyone has their role.

A fair is on in the worldly sea—I alone, you alone,
In the crowd's crush, who asks the heart's words,
Who gives company to whom—everyone has their own boast,
People play their own stakes, people ask one another,
Who are you, who am I—then, who is that human?
When the quest for existence dawns, then answers come; one's identity is found.

1. The Mysterious Question of Human Relationships:-

The central question of this poem is profound and unsettling—in this challenging world, who truly belongs to whom? From poet-guru Rabindranath Tagore to great visionaries and enlightened souls, this thought has been repeatedly expressed. Both bookish knowledge and worldly experience teach us the same truth: we are bound to one another, yet fundamentally separate.

This question is heavy—so many have spent their entire lives searching for its answer. Understanding the world is difficult; living in it is even more painful. In the pursuit of truth, who speaks to whom? Within relationships, who truly belongs to whom? This complexity forms the foundation of life itself, compelling us to reflect at every step. The question is not merely personal but universal, revealing the depth of human existence.

2. A Shared Message from Great Souls:-

The poem reflects that even the greatest of great souls have echoed the same truth—who belongs to whom here? From Rabindranath Tagore to saints and sages, all have acknowledged this reality. Both scriptural learning and lived experience led the poet to the same understanding.

This question is so deep that even the sharpest intellects have exhausted themselves in its pursuit, yet the answer often remains incomplete. The world appears as a grand spectacle where everyone performs a role, yet despair persists. In searching for relationships, people remain entangled, but truth slips through their hands. The message is clear: external bonds are temporary; only inner inquiry is lasting. The enlightened remind us that questioning itself is the gateway to truth.

3. Understanding the World and the Difficulty of Living:-

The poem states that understanding this world is extremely difficult—and living in it is even harder. Who dares to search for truth? In relationships, who belongs to whom? This question is so complex that it entangles life itself.

People play their roles, yet frustration surrounds them. The poem portrays that living without truth becomes a burden. Every step is a struggle, every relationship shadowed by doubt. Yet, this hardship also strengthens us. While scholars engage in deep contemplation, only a rare few truly seek within the crowd. This section teaches that true liberation lies in diving deep into life, beyond superficial bonds.

4. The Bondage of Karma and the Flow of Life:-

Life is portrayed as an endless stream, bound by the unbreakable knot of karma. The sages have declared that the bond of karma never loosens. For billions of years, this current has flowed on—yet who has truly grasped the answer to this eternal question?

The soul journeys across lifetimes; being human is but a fleeting phase. Good and bad actions become burdens and give rise to relationships. By paying the instalments of karma, everyone moves on their chosen path. Across countless births, what truly remains in memory? The law of karma is absolute—it forces us to ask: why are we born, and why do we perform our duties? This section emphasises the inevitability of karmic consequences.

5. Birth, Duty, and the Purpose of Relationships:-

Have you ever wondered—why were we born here? The poem questions: why perform duties, why maintain relationships, why follow dharma? Why build beautiful homes and strive endlessly?

Good and bad actions create relationships and impose burdens. Having paid their karmic dues, all depart. This is the soul’s journey—human existence is transient within the wheel of time. There is more death than living, more suffering than joy. Who truly holds the wand of happiness? Everyone swings their own.

This reflection urges contemplation on life’s purpose: relationships are part of karma, but what is the ultimate truth? Some bonds are tight, others loose; some possess firm resolve, others only endless reflection. In the crowd, only a few truly contemplate life. This leads us toward self-discovery.

6. Life’s Chains and the Struggles of the Wayfarer:-

The poem reveals life’s chains—hardships unfolding at every moment. Travellers walk their paths; who knows what befalls them? Who knows what a single moment may bring? People arrive empty-handed and leave with what they have earned.

Some journeys are filled with hardship; who notices the vigilant and wise? Many pass through phases of struggle, and others mourn amid news of death. Some move forward, others wait endlessly for defeat. In passing conversations, people ask—who belongs to whom?

In the noisy marketplace, self-interest dominates. At day’s end, everyone returns home. Gains and losses, hope and despair—each wagers on the next turn. This section highlights the impermanence of human struggle and the truth of loneliness within the crowd.

7. The Marketplace of the Worldly Ocean:-

The world is described as a marketplace within the ocean of existence. Some leave with full hands, others empty. Some grasp the meaning of life; others remain gamblers. Whether full or empty-handed, all return home. Who truly asks about whom? The Lord asks—who crosses this ocean?

Everyone plays their role in this maze-like world. Roles appear real, yet actions feel hollow. Who is the true player? Victory and defeat, gain and loss, hope and destruction—victory is glorified, and winners rarely ask who belongs to whom. The defeated, however, stand in long queues.

Expectations are immense; hoping to win without struggle is futile. Each wager is personal—victory and defeat belong to the individual alone. This section illuminates the fleeting nature of worldly illusions.

8. Loneliness, Colours of Life, and the Quest for Identity:-

Who walks with whom here? Life displays many colours—joy brings enthusiasm, loss brings defeat. True colours emerge, and the journey appears colourless. The sages say: one comes alone and leaves alone.

In the fair of existence, whose victory and whose defeat? Whom does anyone truly love? Everything feels hollow; everyone is alone. People listen to the victors, but what is the worth of the defeated? In the marketplace, without victory, value seems lost.

The fair continues—I alone, you alone. In the crowd’s chaos, who asks about the heart? Everyone plays their own stakes, asking—Who are you? Who am I? When the search for existence awakens, answers arise, and identity is discovered.

9. Conclusion:-

This poem unveils the depth of life—the question of relationships, the bondage of karma, the spectacle of the worldly ocean—all pointing toward inherent solitude. Great souls teach us that the world is an illusion; perform your role, but seek the truth.

Struggle, victory, and defeat are personal; no one truly belongs to another. Joy and suffering eventually fade into neutrality. In the end, the realisation of one’s existence is liberation.

This poetry inspires us to question, to contemplate—because life is a flowing stream, yet the soul journeys alone. Crossing the ocean of existence lies in self-discovery, where all bonds loosen. This is a universal message: live, but live with awareness.

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