Citrāṅgada of Daśārṇa
Citrāṅgada of Daśārṇa was a mighty warrior, named śatru-mardana (crusher of foes). He met Arjuna in the kingdom of Daśārṇa when the Aśvamedha horse of the Pāṇḍavas reached it. He fought Arjuna in a fierce battle, then submitted. He was invited to the Aśvamedha yajña (horse sacrifice) of Yudhishṭhira.
The meeting with Arjuna
Arjuna guarded the Pāṇḍava Aśvamedha horse. It passed with due honours through Kāśī, Aṅga, Kosala, the Kirāta country and Taṅgaṇa, and then reached the kingdom of Daśārṇa.
There Citrāṅgada met Arjuna. He is described as a mighty and fearsome warrior, and a battle of great ferocity followed. After he was brought under submission, Citrāṅgada offered Arjuna the honours due to a victor. Like the other kings subdued along the path of the horse, he was invited to Yudhishṭhira’s Aśvamedha yajña at the coming Caitra Pūrṇimā.
Others with the same name
Several other figures share this name only. They are different persons:
- Citrāṅgadā of Maṇipura, the mother of Babhruvāhana and wife of Arjuna.
- Citrāṅgada, the elder son of Śāntanu and Satyavatī. He held the Kuru throne for a short time before Vicitravīrya.
- The Gandharva chieftain also named Citrāṅgada, who killed that Kuru prince.
- A Citrāṅgada named among the contestants at the svayaṃvara of Hema in the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa.
- Citrāṅgadā, daughter of Viśvakarmā and bride of Sūratha of Vidarbha.
Sources
- Mahābhārata, Aśvamedhika Parva, Chapter 83