Chitrangada - Warrior Princess of Manipur

Dadi: "Guddu, who do you think is stronger - boys or girls?"

Guddu: "I used to think boys, but Priya beat me in arm wrestling last week..."

Dadi: "*laughs* Tonight's story is about a princess who was raised as a warrior. Her name was Chitrangada, and she could defeat most men in combat."

Guddu: "A warrior princess? Like in the movies?"

Dadi: "Better. She was real - from the Mahabharata itself. Chitrangada was the only child of King Chitravahana of Manipur. Since he had no sons, he raised her as a warrior, teaching her everything about fighting, strategy, and ruling."

Guddu: "Didn't she want to wear pretty dresses and stuff?"

Dadi: "She wore what warriors wore. She trained with weapons, learned to hunt, commanded respect. She was a princess, yes, but also a fierce fighter."

Guddu: "Who did she meet?"

Dadi: "One day, the great archer Arjuna came to Manipur during his travels. He saw Chitrangada hunting in the forest and was captivated - not just by her beauty, but by her skill and strength."

Guddu: "Arjuna? THE Arjuna from the Pandavas?"

Dadi: "The very same. But here's what's interesting. Some versions say Chitrangada was worried Arjuna might reject her for being too "manly." So she prayed to the god of love to make her more beautiful and feminine."

Guddu: "Did it work?"

Dadi: "Arjuna did fall for her - but when Manipur was attacked, Chitrangada threw off her disguise and fought to defend her people. She was a fierce warrior once again."

Guddu: "What did Arjuna think?"

Dadi: "He admired her even more! He realized she was authentic - strong when she needed to be, gentle when she chose to be. He married her right there."

Guddu: "Did she go with him?"

Dadi: "Here's where it gets complicated. The king had a special rule - Chitrangada's children must stay in Manipur to continue the royal line. Arjuna agreed. Their son Babhruvahana would grow up to be king of Manipur."

Guddu: "So Arjuna left?"

Dadi: "After three years, yes. He had to continue his journey. But the story doesn't end there."

Years later, after the great Kurukshetra war, Arjuna was guarding a special horse for a royal ceremony. The horse wandered into Manipur, and Babhruvahana - now grown - had to fight his own father!

Guddu: "Father vs son?!"

Dadi: "Neither knew the other at first. They fought so fiercely that Arjuna was actually killed in battle!"

Guddu: "WHAT?! But Arjuna can't die!"

Dadi: "Chitrangada came running. She was devastated. But another of Arjuna's wives, the serpent princess Ulupi, had a magical gem. She placed it on Arjuna's chest and brought him back to life."

Guddu: "Phew! That was scary!"

Dadi: "When Arjuna woke up, he wasn't angry. He was proud of his son's strength and happy to see Chitrangada again. He took all of them back to Hastinapura."

Guddu: "So they got reunited?"

Dadi: "For a time. When the Pandavas retired and went to the Himalayas, Chitrangada returned to her homeland of Manipur. She was a queen in her own right, after all."

Guddu: "Dadi, I like that she was herself - strong and warrior-like."

Dadi: "That's the lesson, beta. You don't have to fit what others expect. Chitrangada was beautiful AND powerful. Gentle AND fierce. A princess AND a warrior. You can be all the things you are, without apology."

Guddu: "I'm going to tell Priya this story. She'll love it!"

Dadi: "She definitely will. Chitrangada's story has inspired people for thousands of years - even the great poet Tagore wrote a famous play about her."