Citravāhana

Citravāhana was the righteous king of Maṇipura, in the eastern part of Bhāratavarsha. His only child was his daughter Citrāṅgadā, who was also his heir. When Arjuna came to Maṇipura during his twelve years of vanavāsa (forest exile) and asked for her hand, Citravāhana agreed on one condition. The marriage had to be of the putrikā form, so that the son born of it would stay in Maṇipura as his heir. Arjuna accepted. Their son Babhruvāhana became king of Maṇipura after Citravāhana.

A king without a son

Citravāhana came of a noble line and ruled Maṇipura with justice. He had no son. His only child was his daughter Citrāṅgadā, a woman of great beauty and character. To keep his line from ending, he could give her in the putrikā form of marriage.

The condition placed on Arjuna

Arjuna came to Maṇipura and was received with full honour. Citravāhana knew him as the son of Indra and one of the greatest warriors of the age. Arjuna asked for Citrāṅgadā in marriage. Citravāhana agreed, but he stated the putrikā condition clearly. He told Arjuna that he had no son. By the custom of his family he could give his daughter in the putrikā form, in which the son born of the union belongs to his family and carries on his line. If Arjuna accepted this, Citrāṅgadā would be his.

Arjuna agreed, and the marriage was performed.

Babhruvāhana, his heir

Citrāṅgadā and Arjuna had a son, Babhruvāhana. He was raised in Maṇipura as the grandson and heir of Citravāhana. In time Babhruvāhana became king of Maṇipura. In this way the line of Citravāhana went on through his daughter and his grandson, as the putrikā arrangement meant it to.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 215