Chitra: Preface

Preface

TO

MRS. WILLIAM VAUGHN MOODY

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 successors 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.

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