Chitra

A warrior princess. A god’s gift of beauty. A love that seeks the true self.

In Rabindranath Tagore’s exquisite lyrical drama, Chitrangada—raised as a son and trained as a warrior to rule her kingdom—yearns for the love of the great hero Arjuna. Seeking the help of Madana (the god of love) and Vasanta (the god of spring), she is granted a year of transcendent beauty to win his heart.

What follows is a tender, philosophical exploration of identity, desire, illusion, and authenticity as Arjuna falls for the enchanting form, while Chitra wrestles with whether she is loved for her true self or only her outward radiance.

Blending classical Indian legend from the Mahabharata with modernist sensibility and poetic grace, Tagore creates a timeless dialogue on femininity, strength, and the nature of love. Short yet profound, Chitra (a play in one act) shines with lyrical beauty and emotional depth, celebrating the union of inner truth and outer form.

• First published in English in 1914
• A lyrical drama based on the Mahabharata story of Chitrangada
• One of Tagore’s most beloved and frequently performed shorter works

Formats and delivery

• Paperback & Hardcover: Elegant print editions presenting the complete, unabridged text, ideal for your bookshelf.
• Ebook: DRM-free EPUB compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers.
• Audiobook: Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged, perfect for immersive listening.

A beautifully crafted edition for your shelf, your stage, or your quiet reflection, or the perfect gift for lovers of poetic drama and timeless tales of love and self-discovery.

About the Author

Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) was a Bengali polymath—poet, novelist, short story writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, and painter—who reshaped modern Indian literature and music. He became the first non-European Nobel laureate in Literature in 1913 for his poetic work Gitanjali. Tagore’s stories, plays, and novels remain beloved worldwide for their emotional depth, social consciousness, mystical insight, and timeless humanism. Chitra stands as one of his most graceful and enduring dramatic works.