TO
MRS。WILLIAMVAUGHNMOODY
PREFACE
THISlyricaldramawaswrittenabouttwenty—fiveyearsago。ItisbasedonthefollowingstoryfromtheMahabharata。
Inthecourseofhiswanderings，infulfilmentofavowofpenance，ArjunacametoManipur。TherehesawChitrangada，thebeautifuldaughterofChitravahana，thekingofthecountry。
Smittenwithhercharms，heaskedthekingforthehandofhisdaughterinmarriage。Chitravahanaaskedhimwhohewas，andlearningthathewasArjunathePandara，toldhimthatPrabhanjana，oneofhisancestorsinthekinglylineofManipur，hadlongbeenchildless。Inordertoobtainanheir，heperformedseverepenances。Pleasedwiththeseausterities，thegodShivagavehimthisboon，thatheandhissuccessorsshouldeachhaveonechild。Itsohappenedthatthepromisedchildhadinvariablybeenason。He，Chitravahana，wasthefirsttohaveonlyadaughterChitrangadatoperpetuatetherace。Hehad，therefore，alwaystreatedherasasonandhadmadeherhisheir。
Continuing，thekingsaid:
\"Theonesonthatwillbeborntohermustbetheperpetuatorofmyrace。ThatsonwillbethepricethatIshalldemandforthismarriage。Youcantakeher，ifyoulike，onthiscondition。\"
ArjunapromisedandtookChitrangadatowife，andlivedinherfather’scapitalforthreeyears。Whenasonwasborntothem，heembracedherwithaffection，andtakingleaveofherandherfather，setoutagainonhistravels。
THECHARACTERS
GODS:
MADANA（Eros）。
VASANTA（Lycoris）。
MORTALS:
CHITRA，daughteroftheKingofManipur。
ARJUNA，aprinceofthehouseoftheKurus。HeisoftheKshatriyaor\"warriorcaste，\"andduringtheactionislivingasaHermitretiredintheforest。
VILLAGERSfromanoutlyingdistrictofManipur。
NOTE。——Thedramaticpoem\"Chitra\"hasbeenperformedinIndiawithoutscenery——theactorsbeingsurroundedbytheaudience。
Proposalsforitsproductionherehavingbeenmadetohim，hewentthroughthistranslationandprovidedstagedirections，butwishedtheseomittedifitwereprintedasabook。
SCENEI
ChitraARTthouthegodwiththefivedarts，theLordofLove？
MadanaIamhewhowasthefirstbornintheheartoftheCreator。I
bindinbondsofpainandblissthelivesofmenandwomen！
ChitraIknow，Iknowwhatthatpainisandthosebonds。——Andwhoartthou，mylord？
VasantaIamhisfriend——Vasanta——theKingoftheSeasons。DeathanddecrepitudewouldweartheworldtothebonebutthatIfollowthemandconstantlyattackthem。IamEternalYouth。
ChitraIbowtothee，LordVasanta。
MadanaButwhatsternvowisthine，fairstranger？Whydostthouwitherthyfreshyouthwithpenanceandmortification？Suchasacrificeisnotfitfortheworshipoflove。Whoartthouandwhatisthyprayer？
ChitraIamChitra，thedaughterofthekinglyhouseofManipur。WithgodlikegraceLordShivapromisedtomyroyalgrandsireanunbrokenlineofmaledescent。Nevertheless，thedivinewordprovedpowerlesstochangethesparkoflifeinmymother’swomb——soinvinciblewasmynature，womanthoughIbe。
MadanaIknow，thatiswhythyfatherbringstheeupashisson。Hehastaughttheetheuseofthebowandallthedutiesofaking。
ChitraYes，thatiswhyIamdressedinman’sattireandhavelefttheseclusionofawoman’schamber。Iknownofemininewilesforwinninghearts。Myhandsarestrongtobendthebow，butIhaveneverlearntCupid’sarchery，theplayofeyes。
MadanaThatrequiresnoschooling，fairone。Theeyedoesitsworkuntaught，andheknowshowwell，whoisstruckintheheart。
ChitraOnedayinsearchofgameIrovedalonetotheforestonthebankofthePurnariver。TyingmyhorsetoatreetrunkIenteredadensethicketonthetrackofadeer。Ifoundanarrowsinuouspathmeanderingthroughtheduskoftheentangledboughs，thefoliagevibratedwiththechirpingofcrickets，whenofasuddenIcameuponamanlyingonabedofdriedleaves，acrossmypath。
Iaskedhimhaughtilytomoveaside，butheheedednot。ThenwiththesharpendofmybowIprickedhimincontempt。
Instantlyheleaptupwithstraight，talllimbs，likeasuddentongueoffirefromaheapofashes。Anamusedsmileflickeredroundthecornersofhismouth，perhapsatthesightofmyboyishcountenance。ThenforthefirsttimeinmylifeIfeltmyselfawoman，andknewthatamanwasbeforeme。
MadanaAttheauspicioushourIteachthemanandthewomanthissupremelessontoknowthemselves。Whathappenedafterthat？
ChitraWithfearandwonderIaskedhim\"Whoareyou？\"\"IamArjuna，\"hesaid，\"ofthegreatKuruclan。\"Istoodpetrifiedlikeastatue，andforgottodohimobeisance。WasthisindeedArjuna，theonegreatidolofmydreams！Yes，Ihadlongagoheardhowhehadvowedatwelve—years’celibacy。Manyadaymyyoungambitionhadspurredmeontobreakmylancewithhim，tochallengehimindisguisetosinglecombat，andprovemyskillinarmsagainsthim。Ah，foolishheart，whitherfledthypresumption？CouldI
butexchangemyyouthwithallitsaspirationsfortheclodofearthunderhisfeet，Ishoulddeemitamostpreciousgrace。I
knownotinwhatwhirlpoolofthoughtIwaslost，whensuddenlyI
sawhimvanishthroughthetrees。Ofoolishwoman，neitherdidstthougreethim，norspeakaword，norbegforgiveness，butstoodestlikeabarbarianboorwhilehecontemptuouslywalkedaway！……NextmorningIlaidasidemyman’sclothing。I
donnedbracelets，anklets，waist—chain，andagownofpurpleredsilk。Theunaccustomeddressclungaboutmyshrinkingshame;butIhastenedonmyquest，andfoundArjunaintheforesttempleofShiva。
MadanaTellmethestorytotheend。Iamtheheart—borngod，andI
understandthemysteryoftheseimpulses。
ChitraOnlyvaguelycanIrememberwhatthingsIsaid，andwhatanswerI
got。Donotaskmetotellyouall。Shamefellonmelikeathunderbolt，yetcouldnotbreakmetopieces，soutterlyhard，solikeamanamI。HislastwordsasIwalkedhomeprickedmyearslikeredhotneedles。\"Ihavetakenthevowofcelibacy。I
amnotfittobethyhusband！\"Oh，thevowofaman！Surelythouknowest，thougodoflove，thatunnumberedsaintsandsageshavesurrenderedthemeritsoftheirlife—longpenanceatthefeetofawoman。Ibrokemybowintwoandburntmyarrowsinthefire。Ihatedmystrong，lithearm，scoredbydrawingthebowstring。OLove，godLove，thouhastlaidlowinthedustthevainprideofmymanlikestrength;andallmyman’strainingliescrushedunderthyfeet。Nowteachmethylessons;givemethepoweroftheweakandtheweaponoftheunarmedhand。
MadanaIwillbethyfriend。Iwillbringtheworld—conqueringArjunaacaptivebeforethee，toaccepthisrebellion’ssentenceatthyhand。
ChitraHadIbutthetimeneeded，Icouldwinhisheartbyslowdegrees，andasknohelpofthegods。Iwouldstandbyhissideasacomrade，drivethefiercehorsesofhiswar—chariot，attendhiminthepleasuresofthechase，keepguardatnightattheentranceofhistent，andhelphiminallthegreatdutiesofaKshatriya，rescuingtheweak，andmetingoutjusticewhereitisdue。Surelyatlastthedaywouldhavecomeforhimtolookatmeandwonder，\"Whatboyisthis？Hasoneofmyslavesinaformerlifefollowedmelikemygooddeedsintothis？\"Iamnotthewomanwhonourishesherdespairinlonelysilence，feedingitwithnightlytearsandcoveringitwiththedailypatientsmile，awidowfromherbirth。Theflowerofmydesireshallneverdropintothedustbeforeithasripenedtofruit。Butitisthelabourofalifetimetomakeone’strueselfknownandhonoured。
ThereforeIhavecometothydoor，thouworld—vanquishingLove，andthou，Vasanta，youthfulLordoftheSeasons，takefrommyyoungbodythisprimalinjustice，anunattractiveplainness。
Forasingledaymakemesuperblybeautiful，evenasbeautifulaswasthesuddenbloomingofloveinmyheart。Givemebutonebriefdayofperfectbeauty，andIwillanswerforthedaysthatfollow。
MadanaLady，Igrantthyprayer。
VasantaNotfortheshortspanofaday，butforonewholeyearthecharmofspringblossomsshallnestleroundthylimbs。
SCENEII
ArjunaWASIdreamingorwaswhatIsawbythelaketrulythere？
Sittingonthemossyturf，Imusedoverbygoneyearsintheslopingshadowsoftheevening，whenslowlytherecameoutfromthefoldingdarknessoffoliageanapparitionofbeautyintheperfectformofawoman，andstoodonawhiteslabofstoneatthewater’sbrink。Itseemedthattheheartoftheearthmustheaveinjoyunderherbarewhitefeet。Methoughtthevagueveilingsofherbodyshouldmeltinecstasyintoairasthegoldenmistofdawnmeltsfromoffthesnowypeakoftheeasternhill。Shebowedherselfabovetheshiningmirrorofthelakeandsawthereflectionofherface。Shestartedupinaweandstoodstill;thensmiled，andwithacarelesssweepofherleftarmunloosedherhairandletittrailontheearthatherfeet。Shebaredherbosomandlookedatherarms，soflawlesslymodelled，andinstinctwithanexquisitecaress。Bendingherheadshesawthesweetblossomingofheryouthandthetenderbloomandblushofherskin。Shebeamedwithagladsurprise。So，ifthewhitelotusbudonopeninghereyesinthemorningweretoarchherneckandseehershadowinthewater，wouldshewonderatherselfthelivelongday。Butamomentafterthesmilepassedfromherfaceandashadeofsadnesscreptintohereyes。Shebounduphertresses，drewherveiloverherarms，andsighingslowly，walkedawaylikeabeauteouseveningfadingintothenight。Tomethesupremefulfilmentofdesireseemedtohavebeenrevealedinaflashandthentohavevanished……Butwhoisitthatpushesthedoor？
EnterCHITRA，dressedasawoman。
Ah！itisshe。Quiet，myheart！……Fearmenot，lady！IamaKshatriya。
ChitraHonouredsir，youaremyguest。Iliveinthistemple。IknownotinwhatwayIcanshowyouhospitality。
ArjunaFairlady，theverysightofyouisindeedthehighesthospitality。IfyouwillnottakeitamissIwouldaskyouaquestion。
ChitraYouhavepermission。
ArjunaWhatsternvowkeepsyouimmuredinthissolitarytemple，deprivingallmortalsofavisionofsomuchloveliness？
ChitraIharbourasecretdesireinmyheart，forthefulfilmentofwhichIofferdailyprayerstoLordShiva。
ArjunaAlas，whatcanyoudesire，youwhoarethedesireofthewholeworld！FromtheeasternmosthillonwhosesummitthemorningsunfirstprintshisfieryfoottotheendofthesunsetlandhaveI
travelled。Ihaveseenwhateverismostprecious，beautifulandgreatontheearth。Myknowledgeshallbeyours，onlysayforwhatorforwhomyouseek。
ChitraHewhomIseekisknowntoall。
ArjunaIndeed！Whomaythisfavouriteofthegodsbe，whosefamehascapturedyourheart？
ChitraSprungfromthehighestofallroyalhouses，thegreatestofallheroesishe。
ArjunaLady，offernotsuchwealthofbeautyasisyoursonthealtaroffalsereputation。Spuriousfamespreadsfromtonguetotonguelikethefogoftheearlydawnbeforethesunrises。Tellmewhointhehighestofkinglylinesisthesupremehero？
ChitraHermit，youarejealousofothermen’sfame。DoyounotknowthatallovertheworldtheroyalhouseoftheKurusisthemostfamous？
ArjunaThehouseoftheKurus！
ChitraAndhaveyouneverheardofthegreatestnameofthatfar—famedhouse？
ArjunaFromyourownlipsletmehearit。
ChitraArjuna，theconqueroroftheworld。Ihaveculledfromthemouthsofthemultitudethatimperishablenameandhiddenitwithcareinmymaidenheart。Hermit，whydoyoulookperturbed？Hasthatnameonlyadeceitfulglitter？Sayso，andIwillnothesitatetobreakthiscasketofmyheartandthrowthefalsegemtothedust。
ArjunaBehisnameandfame，hisbraveryandprowessfalseortrue，formercy’ssakedonotbanishhimfromyourheart——forhekneelsatyourfeetevennow。
ChitraYou，Arjuna！
ArjunaYes，Iamhe，thelove—hungeredguestatyourdoor。
ChitraThenitisnottruethatArjunahastakenavowofchastityfortwelvelongyears？
ArjunaButyouhavedissolvedmyvowevenasthemoondissolvesthenight’svowofobscurity。
ChitraOh，shameuponyou！Whathaveyouseeninmethatmakesyoufalsetoyourself？Whomdoyouseekinthesedarkeyes，inthesemilk—whitearms，ifyouarereadytopayforherthepriceofyourprobity？Notmytrueself，Iknow。Surelythiscannotbelove，thisisnotman’shighesthomagetowoman！Alas，thatthisfraildisguise，thebody，shouldmakeoneblindtothelightofthedeathlessspirit！Yes，nowindeed，Iknow，Arjuna，thefameofyourheroicmanhoodisfalse。
ArjunaAh，Ifeelhowvainisfame，theprideofprowess！Everythingseemstomeadream。Youaloneareperfect;youarethewealthoftheworld，theendofallpoverty，thegoalofallefforts，theonewoman！Otherstherearewhocanbebutslowlyknown。
Whiletoseeyouforamomentistoseeperfectcompletenessonceandforever。
ChitraAlas，itisnotI，notI，Arjuna！Itisthedeceitofagod。
Go，go，myhero，go。Woonotfalsehood，offernotyourgreathearttoanillusion。Go。
SCENEIII
ChitraNo，impossible。Tofacethatferventgazethatalmostgraspsyoulikeclutchinghandsofthehungryspiritwithin;tofeelhisheartstrugglingtobreakitsboundsurgingitspassionatecrythroughtheentirebody——andthentosendhimawaylikeabeggar——no，impossible。
EnterMADANAandVASANTA。
Ah，godoflove，whatfearfulflameisthiswithwhichthouhastenvelopedme！Iburn，andIburnwhateverItouch。
MadanaIdesiretoknowwhathappenedlastnight。
ChitraAteveningIlaydownonagrassybedstrewnwiththepetalsofspringflowers，andrecollectedthewonderfulpraiseofmybeautyIhadheardfromArjuna;——drinkingdropbydropthehoneythatI
hadstoredduringthelongday。Thehistoryofmypastlifelikethatofmyformerexistenceswasforgotten。Ifeltlikeaflower，whichhasbutafewfleetinghourstolistentoallthehummingflatteriesandwhisperedmurmursofthewoodlandsandthenmustloweritseyesfromtheSky，benditsheadandatabreathgiveitselfuptothedustwithoutacry，thusendingtheshortstoryofaperfectmomentthathasneitherpastnorfuture。
VasantaAlimitlesslifeofglorycanbloomandspenditselfinamorning。
MadanaLikeanendlessmeaninginthenarrowspanofasong。
ChitraThesouthernbreezecaressedmetosleep。FromthefloweringMalatiboweroverheadsilentkissesdroppedovermybody。
Onmyhair，mybreast，myfeet，eachflowerchoseabedtodieon。Islept。And，suddenlyinthedepthofmysleep，Ifeltasifsomeintenseeagerlook，liketaperingfingersofflame，touchedmyslumberingbody。IstartedupandsawtheHermitstandingbeforeme。Themoonhadmovedtothewest，peeringthroughtheleavestoespythiswonderofdivineartwroughtinafragilehumanframe。Theairwasheavywithperfume;thesilenceofthenightwasvocalwiththechirpingofcrickets;thereflectionsofthetreeshungmotionlessinthelake;andwithhisstaffinhishandhestood，tallandstraightandstill，likeaforesttree。ItseemedtomethatIhad，onopeningmyeyes，diedtoallrealitiesoflifeandundergoneadreambirthintoashadowland。Shameslippedtomyfeetlikeloosenedclothes。I
heardhiscall——\"Beloved，mymostbeloved！\"Andallmyforgottenlivesunitedasoneandrespondedtoit。Isaid，\"Takeme，takeallIam！\"AndIstretchedoutmyarmstohim。Themoonsetbehindthetrees。Onecurtainofdarknesscoveredall。Heavenandearth，timeandspace，pleasureandpain，deathandlifemergedtogetherinanunbearableecstasy……Withthefirstgleamoflight，thefirsttwitterofbirds，Iroseupandsatleaningonmyleftarm。Helayasleepwithavaguesmileabouthislipslikethecrescentmooninthemorning。Therosyredglowofthedawnfelluponhisnobleforehead。Isighedandstoodup。Idrewtogethertheleafylianastoscreenthestreamingsunfromhisface。Ilookedaboutmeandsawthesameoldearth。IrememberedwhatIusedtobe，andranandranlikeadeerafraidofherownshadow，throughtheforestpathstrewnwithshephaliflowers。Ifoundalonelynook，andsittingdowncoveredmyfacewithbothhands，andtriedtoweepandcry。Butnotearscametomyeyes。