Page 268 - DENG201_ENGLISH_II

English - II

Notes However, he has no heart (no intention) to throw it away. As his royal right arm is idly occupied in
holding it (the gem), he forgets his duties.
Meanwhile Chitra enters and asks him to convey his thoughts to her. Arjuna informs her that his
mind is busy with the thoughts of hunting that day. There is torrential downpour of rain fiercely
beating the hill-side. The forest is thickly enveloped with the dark shadow of the clouds. The over-
flowing stream crosses all barriers (obstacles) with mocking laughter. On such occasions of rainy
days, all the five brothers (the Pandavas) used to go to the Chitraka forest to hunt the wild animals.
Arjuna feels happy to remember those good old days. Their hearts used to dance in tune with the
drum-beat of the rumbling clouds. The woods were resounding with the screeching sounds of pea-
cocks. The timid deer were unable to hear their approaching steps on account of the sound of the
showering rain and the noise of water-falls. The leopards used to leave their tracks on the wet land,
betraying their lairs. After the completion of their sport (hunting), they would dare each other to
swim across the turbulent streams on their way back home. Arjuna clearly states that his spirit is
restless and that he deeply desires to go on hunting.
Chitra advises him to first run down the quarry that he has been following. She doubts whether he
can catch the enchanted deer that he pursues. She feels that he cannot, since the wild creature (the
deer) eludes his grasp, while it most nearly seems to be his. Like the wind chased by the mad rain
that lets loose thousand arrows after it, the deer goes free and unconquered (un-caught). She points
out that their love is similar to that. He pursues the fleet-footed spirit of beauty making use of every
possible arrow available in his hands. In spite of that, she says that this magic deer runs ever free and
untouched.
Arjuna asks his beloved whether she has no home, where kind hearts await her return-a home which
was once made sweet with her gentle service and the brightness of which withered away when she
left it for this forest. Chitra is puzzled at these questions of Arjuna who is fed up with the repetition
of the physical pleasures. She understands that in his view, she is no more than what he sees before
him and that there is no prospect before him. Her love is like the perfect bead of dew that hangs on
the tip of the petal of kinsuka flower. The dew does not have any name or destination and it can offer
no answer to any question.
Arjuna then asks Chitra whether she has no ties (connections) with the world. He wonders whether
she is like a piece of heaven dropped on the earth through the carelessness of a playful God. Chitra
replies in the positive and asserts—it. Then Arjuna frankly admits to Chitra, that on this account
only, he seems to be losing her. His heart is full of dissatisfaction and it enjoys no peace. She seems to
be beyond reach and wants her to come closer to him. He appeals to her to surrender herself to him
with the bonds of name, home and parentage. He strongly desires that his heart should feel her on all
sides and live with her in the peaceful security of love.
Chitra feels sorry why Arjuna should make these purposeless efforts to catch and keep the colours of
the clouds, the dance of the waves and the smell of the flower. Arjuna appeals to Chitra not to try to
adjust his love with airy nothings. He wants her to give him something to grasp. Something that can
exist longer than pleasure and that which can endure even through suffering.
Chitra addresses him as her hero and remarks that he is already exhausted though the year has not
come to a close. The life span of flowers and youth is short-lived as decreed by God (Heaven). She
feels that if her body had dropped down and died along with the flowers of the last spring season, it
would certainly have died with honour. However its days are numbered. Her body should not be
spared and he should press it dry of all honey (sweetness).”otherwise his heart would come back to
it again and again with unsatisfied desire, like a thirsty bee when summer flowers lie dead in the
dust.
Critical Remarks
The character of Arjuna is developed here. He wakes from his dreamy world and turns to the realities
of his duties. His mind gets preoccupied with the thoughts of hunting and he is reminded of his
brothers. There is a perceptible change in his mood, different from that of the earlier one of unthinking
pleasure’ indulged by him. He wishes to hold on to something permanent. Though the year has not

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