Citrāṅgadā of Maṇipura

Citrāṅgadā was the daughter of Citravāhana, the king of Maṇipura. She was the only child and heir of her father’s line. She was very beautiful and of noble character.

Arjuna came to Maṇipura during his twelve years of vanavāsa (forest exile) and wished to marry her. Her father gave her in the putrikā form of marriage. In this form the son born of the union stays in Maṇipura as the heir of the bride’s father. Their son was Babhruvāhana, who grew up to be a great warrior and the king of Maṇipura. Citrāṅgadā raised him in Maṇipura after Arjuna left.

This Citrāṅgadā of Maṇipura is a different person from the Citrāṅgadā of the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa.

Character and beauty

The Ādi Parva describes Citrāṅgadā as a woman of great beauty and noble character. She was the worthy daughter of a righteous king, with the qualities of a royal princess. When Arjuna met her, he at once wished to make her his wife.

The putrikā marriage

Her father Citravāhana had no son. He offered Citrāṅgadā in the putrikā form of marriage. This is a recognised arrangement in dharma. The daughter is named as the family’s heir. The son born of her marriage continues the line of her father, the maternal grandfather, and not the line of his own father. Arjuna accepted this condition.

Babhruvāhana, son and heir

Citrāṅgadā and Arjuna had a son, Babhruvāhana, who was strong and of good character. Arjuna left to continue his pilgrimage. Citrāṅgadā raised Babhruvāhana in Maṇipura, under the care of Citravāhana. Babhruvāhana grew into a great warrior. In time he followed his maternal grandfather as king of Maṇipura.

Later, during the Pāṇḍava Aśvamedha yajña, Babhruvāhana met his father Arjuna in battle. Not knowing who he was fighting, he killed him. Ulūpī then helped to bring Arjuna back to life.

The battle at Maṇipura

When that battle took place, Citrāṅgadā fell in a faint on seeing her husband struck down by her own son. When she woke, she turned on Ulūpī in grief and anger. She accused Ulūpī of having pushed Babhruvāhana to the fight out of jealousy. She vowed to sit in prāyopaveśa (fasting until death) unless Arjuna was restored to life. She was still at his side, weeping, when Ulūpī’s sañjīvana maṇi (life-giving gem) brought him back to life.

Ulūpī then explained that the battle had been arranged so that Arjuna would be freed from a śāpa (a curse) laid on him by the Vasus for his killing of Bhīshma.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 215
• Mahābhārata, Aśvamedhika Parva, Chapter 80