Author(s): Jayantakumar Panda
Abstract:
W. B. Yeats’s “A Prayer for My Daughter” (1919) is not merely a paternal meditation, but a profound philosophical reflection that harmonizes Western poetic vision with Eastern spiritual ideals. Set against the backdrop of post-war Ireland, the poem juxtaposes the external storm with an inner yearning for stability, innocence, and virtue. This paper explores the literary devices, structure, and themes of the poem while aligning its philosophical concerns with the teachings of the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gītā, the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, and the Vachanāmrut. Yeats’s prayer for his daughter reveals deep affinities with Vedantic ideals such as detachment, humility, self-realization, and inner peace. The poet’s critique of intellectual arrogance, advocacy for rootedness, and call for harmony resonate with the Sanātana Dharma’s vision of a life led by dharma and spiritual clarity. By bridging Irish poetics and Indian metaphysics, this study sheds new light on Yeats’s verse as a trans-cultural spiritual document.
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