Story of Citrāṅgadā

A wife of Arjuna.

General information.

When once Dharmaputra was closeted with Pāñcālī in amorous talks Arjuna by mistake entered the room and was thus compelled as per a previous mutual agreement to go on a pilgrimage for a year. During this exile he married the serpent girl Ulūpī. After that he proceeded again on his pilgrimage and reached a state called Maṇalūr. Maṇalūr was then reigned by a King called Citravāhana. Citrāṅgadā was the daughter of Citravāhana.

An ancestor of Citravāhana greatly grieved by the lack of a son, did great penance to propitiate Śiva and Śiva blessed him and said that in future he and his successors would get a son to keep their line unbroken. Accordingly all the forefathers of Citravāhana got a son each but when it came to the turn of the latter he got a girl instead.

Arjuna accidentally saw Citrāṅgadā and fell in love with her, and knowing that, the king received Arjuna in his palace and requested Arjuna to marry his daughter. Arjuna married her and the couple got a son named Babhruvāhana. Promising them that he would come back and take them to Hastināpura Arjuna continued his pilgrimage. (Chapters 219, 220, and 221, Ādi Parva).

How Citrāṅgadā came to Hastināpura.

When after the great epic battle Dharmaputra conducted an Aśvamedhayajña it was Arjuna who led the sacrificial horse to the south. When Arjuna came to Maṇalūr he came against Babhruvāhana who challenged him for a fight. In the grim battle that ensued Arjuna fell dead by the piercing arrows of Babhruvāhana, his own son. At that time Ulūpī and Citrāṅgadā came to the scene and seeing Arjuna lying dead, Ulūpī brought the diamond, Mṛtasañjīvanī, and placing it on Arjuna’s face brought him back to life. (See Babhruvāhana for details). After this incident all of them, Citrāṅgadā, Ulūpī and Babhruvāhana went to Hastināpura along with Arjuna. (Chapters 79 to 81, Aśvamedha Parva).

Other details

(1) Citrāṅgadā on reaching Hastināpura bowed down before Kuntī and Pāñcālī touching their feet and lived amicably with others like Subhadrā. (Śloka 2, Chapter 88, Aśvamedha Parva).

(2) Kuntī, Subhadrā and Pāñcālī gave Citrāṅgadā many diamonds as present. (Śloka 3, Chapter 88, Aśvamedha Parva).

(3) Citrāṅgadā looked to the comforts of Gāndhārī as a servant-maid. (Śloka 23, Chapter 1, Āśramavāsika Parva).

(4) Citrāṅgadā was one among the women who wept when at the fag end of their life Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Gāndhārī and Kuntī started for Vanavāsa (life in the forest). (Śloka 10, Chapter 15, Āśramavāsika Parva).

(5) Citrāṅgadā was a beautiful woman having an enchanting figure as that of a Madhūka flower. (Śloka 11, Chapter 25, Āśramavāsika Parva).

(6) After the Mahāprasthāna of the Pāṇḍavas Citrāṅgadā left for Maṇipur. (Śloka 18, Chapter 1, Mahāprasthānika Parva).