Maṇipura was a kingdom in the eastern reaches of Bhāratavarsha. Its king was the noble Citravāhana. It is the place of Arjuna’s third marriage, to Citrangadā, who was Citravāhana’s only daughter and heir. Arjuna was then living in his twelve years of vanavāsa (exile in the forest).

Eastern kingdom

Maṇipura was a kingdom of the east. It was one of the distant realms that Arjuna visited during his twelve years of tīrtha pilgrimage. Citravāhana ruled it with justice and righteousness.

Arjuna’s marriage to Citrangadā

When Arjuna came to Maṇipura during his vanavāsa, he saw Citrangadā and wished to make her his wife. Citravāhana agreed to the marriage on the condition of putrikā (the daughter’s son is counted as the son of her father’s house): the son born of the union would remain in Maṇipura and belong to its line, not to the Pāṇḍava house. Arjuna accepted. Babhruvāhana was born there and raised there.

Babhruvāhana’s kingdom

Babhruvāhana became king of Maṇipura. He carried on the line of Citravāhana through his mother. During the Pāṇḍavas’ Aśvamedha yajña, the sacrificial horse entered Maṇipura. This led to the battle between father and son, in which Arjuna died for a time and was then restored.

Sources

Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 215