Chitra

""Chitra"" is a play written by Sir Rabindranath Tagore, a Bengali poet, philosopher, and polymath. The play revolves around the character of Chitra, a young princess who is known for her beauty but is also a skilled warrior. Despite her prowess, she feels incomplete and yearns for love and companionship. One day, she meets Arjuna, a handsome prince, and falls in love with him. However, Arjuna is hesitant to reciprocate her feelings as he is already engaged to another princess. Through a series of events and conversations, Chitra and Arjuna explore their emotions and come to a deeper understanding of themselves and each other. The play is a powerful exploration of love, desire, and the complexities of human relationships. It is a timeless classic that continues to captivate readers with its lyrical prose, vivid imagery, and profound insights into the human condition.1914. A Play in One Act. 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 fulfillment 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.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.