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CHITRA
CHITRA
BY RABINDRANATH TAGORE
A PLAY IN ONE ACT
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CHITRA
PREFACE
THIS lyrical drama was written about twenty…five years ago。 It is
based on the following story from the Mahabharata。
In the course of his wanderings； in fulfilment of a vow of penance；
Arjuna came to Manipur。 There he saw Chitrangada； the beautiful
daughter of Chitravahana； the king of the country。 Smitten with her
charms； he asked the king for the hand of his daughter in marriage。
Chitravahana asked him who he was； and learning that he was Arjuna the
Pandara； told him that Prabhanjana； one of his ancestors in the kingly line
of Manipur； had long been childless。 In order to obtain an heir； he
performed severe penances。 Pleased with these austerities； the god Shiva
gave him this boon； that he and his successors should each have one child。
It so happened that the promised child had invariably been a son。 He；
Chitravahana； was the first to have only a daughter Chitrangada to
perpetuate the race。 He had； therefore； always treated her as a son and had
made her his heir。
Continuing； the king said：
〃The one son that will be born to her must be the perpetuator of my
race。 That son will be the price that I shall demand for this marriage。 You
can take her； if you like； on this condition。〃
Arjuna promised and took Chitrangada to wife； and lived in her
father's capital for three years。 When a son was born to them； he embraced
her with affection； and taking leave of her and her father； set out again on
his travels。
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CHITRA
THE CHARACTERS
GODS： MADANA （Eros）。 VASANTA （Lycoris）。
MORTALS： CHITRA； daughter of the King of Manipur。 ARJUNA； a
prince of the house of the Kurus。 He is of the Kshatriya or 〃warrior caste；〃
and during the action is living as a Hermit retired in the forest。
VILLAGERS from an outlying district of Manipur。
NOTE。The dramatic poem 〃Chitra〃 has been performed in India
without scenerythe actors being surrounded by the audience。 Proposals
for its production here having been made to him； he went through this
translation and provided stage directions； but wished these omitted if it
were printed as a book。
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CHITRA
SCENEI
Chitra
ART thou the god with the five darts； the Lord of Love？
Madana
I am he who was the first born in the heart of the Creator。 I bind in
bonds of pain and bliss the lives of men and women！
Chitra
I know； I know what that pain is and those bonds。And who art thou；
my lord？
Vasanta
I am his friendVasantathe King of the Seasons。 Death and
decrepitude would wear the world to the bone but that I follow them and
constantly attack them。 I am Eternal Youth。
Chitra
I bow to thee； Lord Vasanta。
Madana
But what stern vow is thine； fair stranger？ Why dost thou wither thy
fresh youth with penance and mortification？ Such a sacrifice is not fit for
the worship of love。 Who art thou and what is thy prayer？
Chitra
I am Chitra； the daughter of the kingly house of Manipur。 With godlike
grace Lord Shiva promised to my royal grandsire an unbroken line of male
descent。 Nevertheless； the divine word proved powerless to change the
spark of life in my mother's womb so invincible was my nature； woman
though I be。
Madana
I know； that is why thy father brings thee up as his son。 He has taught
thee the use of the bow and all the duties of a king。
Chitra
Yes； that is why I am dressed in man's attire and have left the seclusion
of a woman's chamber。 I know no feminine wiles for winning hearts。 My
hands are strong to bend the bow； but I have never learnt Cupid's archery；
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CHITRA
the play of eyes。
Madana
That requires no schooling； fair one。 The eye does its work untaught；
and he knows how well； who is struck in the heart。
Chitra
One day in search of game I roved alone to the forest on the bank of
the Purna river。 Tying my horse to a tree trunk I entered a dense thicket on
the track of a deer。 I found a narrow sinuous path meandering through the
dusk of the entangled boughs； the foliage vibrated with the chirping of
crickets； when of a sudden I came upon a man lying on a bed of dried
leaves； across my path。 I asked him haughtily to move aside； but he
heeded not。 Then with the sharp end of my bow I pricked him in contempt。
Instantly he leapt up with straight； tall limbs； like a sudden tongue of fire
from a heap of ashes。 An amused smile flickered round the corners of his
mouth； perhaps at the sight of my boyish countenance。 Then for the first
time in my life I felt myself a woman； and knew that a man was before
me。
Madana
At the auspicious hour I teach the man and the woman this supreme
lesson to know themselves。 What happened after that？
Chitra
With fear and wonder I asked him 〃Who are you？〃 〃I am Arjuna；〃 he
said； 〃of the great Kuru clan。〃 I stood petrified like a statue； and forgot to
do him obeisance。 Was this indeed Arjuna； the one great idol of my dreams！
Yes； I had long ago heard how he had vowed a twelve…years' celibacy。
Many a day my young ambition had spurred me on to break my lance with
him； to challenge him in disguise to single combat； and prove my skill in
arms against him。 Ah； foolish heart； whither fled thy presumption？ Could I
but exchange my youth with all its aspirations for the clod of earth under
his feet； I should deem it a most precious grace。 I know not in what
whirlpool of thought I was lost； when suddenly I saw him vanish through
the trees。 O foolish woman； neither didst thou greet him； nor speak a word；
nor beg forgiveness； but stoodest like a barbarian boor while he
contemptuously walked away！ 。 。 。 Next morning I laid aside my man's
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CHITRA
clothing。 I donned bracelets； anklets； waist…chain； and a gown of purple
red silk。 The unaccustomed dress clung about my shrinking shame； but I
hastened on my quest； and found Arjuna in the forest temple of Shiva。
Madana
Tell me the story to the end。 I am the heart…born god； and I understand
the mystery of these impulses。
Chitra
Only vaguely can I remember what things I said； and what answer I
got。 Do not ask me to tell you all。 Shame fell on me like a thunderbolt； yet
could not break me to pieces； so utterly hard； so like a man am I。 His last
words as I walked home pricked my ears like red hot needles。 〃I have
taken the vow of celibacy。 I am not fit to be thy husband！〃 Oh； the vow of
a man！ Surely thou knowest； thou god of love； that unnumbered saints and
sages have surrendered the merits of their life…long penance at the feet of a
woman。 I broke my bow in two and burnt my arrows in the fire。 I hated
my strong； lithe arm； scored by drawing the bowstring。 O Love； god Love；
thou hast laid low in the dust the vain pride of my manlike strength； and
all my man's training lies crushed under thy feet。 Now teach me thy
lessons； give me the power of the weak and the weapon of the unarmed
hand。
Madana
I will be thy friend。 I will bring the world…conquering Arjuna a captive
before thee； to accept his rebellion's sentence at thy hand。
Chitra
Had I but the time needed； I could win his heart by slow degrees； and
ask no help of the gods。 I would stand by his side as a comrade； drive the
fierce horses of his war…chariot； attend him in the pleasures of the chase；
keep guard at night at the entrance of his tent； and help him in all the great