文档介绍：CHITRA
CHITRA
BY RABINDRANATH TAGORE
A PLAY IN ONE ACT
1
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 essors 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.
2
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 scenery--the actors being surrounded by the audience. Proposals
f