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Notes explaining that he had travelled from one corner of the world to the other end of the world. He had
seen all the most precious, most beautiful and greatest things on the earth. He would reveal his
knowledge to her whether it be regarding objects or person. Chitra answered that the person whom
she sought after was known to everybody.
Arjuna felt inwardly glad and asked her who that fortunate, favourite and reputed person was that
captured her heart. She answered that the object of her love had originated from the highest of all
royal houses and that he was the greatest of all heroes. Arjuna suggested to her that she should not
offer such wealth of beauty as she possessed, on the altar of false reputation. He made it clear to her
that “Spurious (false) fame spreads from tongue to tongue like the fog of the early dawn before the
sun rises”. He once again asked her who that supreme hero, in the highest of kingly lines was. Chitra
remarked that he was envious of the fame of other men. She would ask him whether he was not
aware of the fact that the royal house of the Kurus was the most famous all over the world. Arjuna
simply explained at it when she asked him whether he had never heard of the greatest name of that
far-famed house (of Kurus). Arjuna wanted to hear the name from her own lips. Chitra replied that
he was Arjuna the conqueror of the world. She had culled that imperishable name from the mouths
of the multitude and hidden it with care in her maiden heart. As she uttered these words, she found
a disturbed look in the hermit Arjuna. She was afraid whether that name had only a deceptive spark.
If it were so, she would not hesitate to break that casket of her heart and throw the false gem to the
dust. At this. Arjuna, known for his name and fame, bravery and prowess, prostrated at her feet and
humbly begged her not to banish him from her heart. He thus revealed his identity, by stating that he
himself was Arjuna, the love-hungered guest at her door.
Chitra then asked him whether it was not a fact that Arjuna had taken a vow of celibacy for twelve
long years. He replied that his vow of chastity (celibacy) was dissolved as the moon dissolved the
night’s vow of obscurity. She remarked that it was shameful on his part to make himself false, by
looking at her dark eyes and milk white arms. She felt that it was not the way in which man’s highest
homage to woman should be exhibited. She was surprised why that “frail disguise, the body, should
make him blind to the light of the deathless spirit. She then stated the fame of his heroic manhood
was false.
Arjuna exclaimed and confessed that fame, the pride of prowess was vain. Everything seemed to him
nothing more than a dream. She (Chitra) alone was perfect. She was the wealth of the world, the end
of all poverty, the goal of all efforts, the one woman. He extols her by saying ‘’Others there are who
can be but slowly known. While to see you for a moment is to see perfect completeness once and for
ever”.
Then Chitra advised Arjuna that she was not what she looked to be (a mere shadow) and that she
was the deceit of a god. She further directed him to leave the spot and remarked that he should not
woo falsehood and that he should not offer his great heroic heart to an illusion.
Critical Remarks
The keynote of this scene is that the body wins over the soul. Arjuna falls a victim to the apparition of
perfect beauty namely Chitra, who enjoys the bliss of loveliness endowed by the Gods. She reveals to
him her identity by stating that she is falsehood, an illusion and a deceit of god. She is more saddened
than elated. As far as Arjuna is concerned, everything appears to be a mere dream. He is stricken
with love on seeing her extraordinary charms and forgets his vow of celibacy (chastity). He is prepared
to lose himself in the world of dreams rather than listen to Chitra’s advice.
Chitra makes use of all possible tricks to win over her lover. She makes Arjuna her captive and he
desires to drink deep into the joys of her . beauty and charms. There is development in the plot and
the story. The blessings of the Gods are evidently seen in the bliss of Chitra.
Scene III
Chitra feels herself restless to send him (Arjuna) away like a (beggar), haying felt his heart struggling
to break its bounds, urging its passionate cry through the entire body. She felt after meeting Arjuna,
as though she was enveloped with a fearful flame, which was burning her. She, in her turn, also
burnt everything that she touched.

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