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English - II

Notes 1. The Chitrangada-Arjuna episode in the Mahabharata runs up to 15 verses, (beginning from stanza
no. 13 to stanza no. 27), while Tagore’s drama involves nine scenes.
2. In the Mahabharata, Arjuna meets Chitravahana, the King of Manipur, whereas in Tagore’s Chitra,
Arjuna never encounters the King.
3. In the Mahabharata, Arjuna accidently meets Chitrangada while in Tagore’s Chitra, it is Chitra who
sees Arjuna accidently.
4. In the Mahabharata, Chitrangada has been depicted as a youthful damsel of exquisite beauty. She
is Charudarsana and Vararoha, whereas in Tagore’s Chitra, Chitra is unattractive and plain. The
whole plot of the drama hinges on this point. Had Chitra been a beautiful woman she would not
have approached Madana (Eros) and Vasanta (Lycoris) for lending her charm and grace even for
a day, so that she might win the heart of Arjuna.
5. In the Mahabharata, Arjuna makes up his mind to have Chitrangada as his wife and therefore he
goes to the King and seeks his permission for the hand of Chitrangada, whereas in Tagore’s
Chitra, Arjuna does not seek her hand in marriage with the permission of her father or any of her
guardians.
6. In the Mahabharata, Arjuna lives with Chitrangada in Manipur for three years, while in Tagore’s
Chitra, Arjuna stays with her for only a year.
7. In the Mahabharata, Chitrangada gives birth to a boy-child and Arjuna leaves after having presented
the son to the father of Chitrangada, whereas in Tagore’s Chitra, Arjuna is illuminated with
revelation after a year and is reminded of his home. Here Chitra offers the last sacrifice at Arjuna’s
feet (i.e., flowers of incomparable beauty from the garden of heaven and tells Arjuna that she will
teach her child to be a second Arjuna).
8. In the Mahabharata, Chitrangada is observed as a submissive daughter and wife. She accepts
anything and everything, while in Tagore’s Chitra, Chitra is a strong-willed daughter and a fierce
individual.
Self-Assessment
1. Tick (√) the correct option:
(i) In this play the first scene deals with the rejection of Arjuna by Chitra.
(ii) Madana addresses Chitra as the daughter of mortals.
(iii) Tagore’s Chitra Arjuna never encounters the king.
(iv) Arjuna stays with Chitra for only a year.
(v) Chitra is a strong-willed daughter and a fierce individual.

20.6 Summary
• Characterisation is really the fundamental and lasting element in the greatness of any dramatic
work. Chitra has only four dramatis personae, for the villagers are lay figures; and of these four,
two are immortals and the other two are mortals. The two gods come into view at usual intervals
and are directly responsible for the physical union of Chitra and Arjuna. There is a gradual
development of the character of Chitra; the gods also appear at regular intervals; there is a
subtle inter-play of mood within mood and that although Chitra and Arjuna both experience
the joys of sensuous love and both tire of it, their reactions to this experience are widely divergent.
As the play opens, two meetings between Chitra and Arjuna take place. In the first meeting she
meets him in the disguise of a man and in the second, as a beautiful woman. Chitra captivates
Arjuna. Her dream is fulfilled and she grasps what may be called absolute joy, but she suddenly
discovers that the dream is not as sweet as expected. She feels that she has degraded Arjuna by
ensnaring him in the toils of mere physical beauty. She becomes painfully conscious that the
rapturous embrace for which she hungered has been withdrawn by the disguise upon her. She

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