Author: Rabindranath Tagore
Publisher: Rupa
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 49
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8171677797
Description
Chitra - a lyrical drama, is the translation of Chitrangada. It is based on a story from the Mahabharata. Chitraganda was the beautiful daughter of Chitravahana, King of Manipur. One of the Pandava brothers, Arjun, was smitten with her charms on his travels to Manipur and asked for her hand in marriage.
But Chitrangada was the only child of her father. Chitravahana therefore laid down a condition. He demanded their son as the price for allowing their marriage. He wanted his grandson to be the perpetuator of his race. Arjuna agreed and lived with Chitrangada in her father’s capital for three years. A son was born to them and Arjun then took his leave and set out on his travels again.
The English translation, in Edward Thompson’s words, presents an interesting study of Tagore’s method and is the best example of his insight into another language.