The Story Of Chitrangada

By Ruchira Banerjee

The story of Chitrangada, gleaned from the Mahabharata’s “Adi  Parva”, in which, Tagore  sought to recast a mythical image that was fairer to gender justice than the long suffering Sita of the Ramayana could ever be. Lord Shiva had graced the Manipur Dynasty with a boon of never having a girl child. Still, Manipur Dynasty was blessed with a girl child. The king of Manipur, named her Chitrangada. Brought up as a son by her father, the king of Manipur, Chitrangada was well versed in archery,law & politics.

          One fine day when Chitrangada had reached her youth stage, “Arjuna”, The Third Pandava came in the path of her life. He came to Manipur to observe his celibacy vow(Brahmacharya Brat).Interestingly, Arjuna’s period of continence was  like a new birth in Chitrangada’s life, the unexpected beginning of intense passion of love in her heart. But for the Pandava, the first glimpse of The Princess could not move his heart due to her manly presence.

           He called Chitrangada & her troop of brave soldiers as a team of young boys who should take refuse in mother’s lap which is free from any kind of danger. But when Chitrangada met Arjuna  exiled in the forests of Manipur for the first time, the women in her was smitten. It was love at first sight as she was completely mesmerized by the Pandava. She surrendered her treasure of love & devotion at his feet & also placed marrraige proposal. But Arjuna refused her.

       But, now Chitrangada submerged in the nectar of love was restless to win Arjuna’s heart. Thus, she changed herself into a beautiful women with the boon of Lord Madan, the God of Love & ensnared Arjuna. The Princess who was basking in the glory of her new found flawless beauty had now captivated The Pandava, who was also strucked by Madan’s  arrow of love, like her. Her beauty shone like a rich jewel. The lamps, Gold, Silver & even the sublime, celestial beauty of courtesean Urvashi also seemed dull beside her bright beauty. Thus, enraptured by her radiant beauty, the Pandava placed marriage offer to the Princess. And this marriage  offer had invoked  such happiness in her life that had no boundaries.

         Thus, Chitrangada’s life was in a state of perfect bliss. Everything was going well. The courtship was also going fine. But the Princess’s course of life was getting ready for a new turn.

The Princess was out from her empire for courting Arjuna. But during the period of her absence in the Manipur State, some invaders had entered the kingdom with intention of loot & plunder. The poor natives were naturally very frightened in her absence & they wanted their Princess to return from her Pilgrimage(as the civillians had known their Princess out of the State for some holy pilgrim). For the  civillians of Manipur, Chitrangada was soft, feminine, mother like figure on one side & on the other side, She was brave, courageous warrior who resemble like Goddess Durga, when she sat on her throne.

      Thus, after the first flush of romance died down Arjuna lost interest in her beauty & became more curious to meet Chitrangada, the warrior Princess of whom he had heard infinite praises. At this moment, the curious Arjuna had no other option rather than asking his beloved Chitrangada about the warrior Chitrangada. What a fantastic ambience of love & a magical feeling of curiousity has been built in this drama. Discovering  Arjuna’s  likeness for the warrior Princess, it was like a tiny sapling of love that found new flowers of spring in Chitrangada’s heart. But, still when asked by Arjuna about the warrior Princess ‘s description, Chitrangada described her as an ugly duckling, devoid of heart rendering beauty, just to woo the Pandava.

        But Arjuna was not discouraged when told that she did not have classic beautiful looks. He had been fascinated by the Princess who had combined in herself the qualities of a man & a woman. This was because Arjuna’s soul which is essentially beautiful was stirred by internal qualities of beauty.

     ALTHOUGH, ‘’ JEALOUSY, THY NAME IS WOMEN’’ BUT THERE WAS NO CLASH OF EGO BETWEEN WARRIOR CHITRANGADA & ARJUNA’S BELOVED CHITRANGADA, NOT BECAUSE THEY BOTH WERE SAME GIRL. BUT PRINCESS WAS A DOWN-TO-EARTH GIRL WHO KNEW ABOUT THE REALITY OF THE BOON. LORD MADAN’S BOON WAS ONLY FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR. SO AFTER THE EXPIRY OF ONE YEAR, SHE WAS DESTINED TO TURN INTO HER QRIGINAL FORM OF AN UGLY DUCKLING.

      IN A NUTSHELL, SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT “IF A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN SOUGHT TO ENSNARE HER BELOVED WITH ONLY PHYSICAL BEAUTY, SHE WOULD HAVE TO RECKON WITH ITS IMPERMANANCE 7 CONTEND WITH ITS FRAGILITY”.

      Thus, looking at Arjuna’s intense desire of meeting Chitrangada, she says “ The Warrior Princess Chitrangada is indeed very lucky that finally the auspicious day arrived in her life when Arjuna wants to meet her”. Arjuna’s restlessness for the warrior Princess had thus left an everlasting thrill of joy in her life & filled her heart with rapturous delight. Chitrangada, then says to Arjuna “ I promise, that, today, with the end of the dusky moon night(Amabhashya) and tomorrow with the advent of the new dawn you will able to see Chitrangada in her true,real, in fact in a complete form”.

      Thus, in the bright sunshine of the new morning, Chitrangada revealed herself in her actual form & Arjuna proposed marriage to her. But while responding to Arjuna’s  marriage proposal, Chitrangada possibly made some strongest statements of that era. She says to Arjuna “ I am Chitrangada, I am the King’s daughter/ Not a Goddess, nor an ordinary woman/ Worshipping me and placing me on a pedestal, that is not me, not me/ Neglecting me and keeping me behind, that is not me, not me,/ If you keep me by your side in crisis and in wealth/ If you allow me to stand by you in all hardship and strife/ You will come to know me truly/ Today, I merely make this submission---I am Chitrangada, the King’s daughther” .

        Tagore dwelt on the concept of real beauty lying within while external physical attractiveness was fleeting & momentary. Even, Arjuna also realized that with the passage of spring the physical beauty would simply disappear in a mirage of colour. So, he accepts Chitrangada as his lifepartner & forever companion. Love conquers Arjuna’s heart & the physical features of love fades away. Beauty receives a new dimension as formless, devoid of the conventional classical looks & earthly form. Beauty, thus stands as an external gift while internal spiritual love becomes eternal, immortal.

By Ruchira Banerjee