plumbing.] To plumb is to get to the bottom of a piece of water. Here Phatik is pictured as himself going deeper and deeper into the sea of death, which none can fathom.
the holidays.] The Bengali word for "holiday" means also "release." It is as though he were saying, "My release has come." This cannot be represented in the English.
[III.—ONCE THERE WAS A KING]
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.