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Chitrāngada
Chitrāngada
Mahabharata character
	Wayang puppet of Chitrangada
Information
Gender	Male
Family	Shantanu (father); Satyavati (mother); Vichitravirya (brother); Bhishma (Half-brother);
Relatives	Kuru dynasty-Chandravanshi

Chitrāngada (Sanskrit: चित्राङ्गद, IAST: citrāṅgada) was the king of Kuru Mahajanapada with his capital Hastinapura. He belonged to the Lunar Dynasty of Bharata Tribe He was the elder son of Shantanu and Satyavati, who ascended the throne of Hastinapura after his father's death.^[1]

Legend

Following the wishes of queen Satyavati, Bhishma had placed Chitrangada on the throne of the kingdom of the Kurus after Shantanu's departure. Chitrangada was a great warrior and defeated many powerful enemies and Asuras. But soon he developed pride and began disrespecting everyone. Bhishma who tried to correct his young brother's bad behaviour was ignored and rendered powerless on account of his oath to perpetually serve the Kuru King. Finally, the king of the Gandharvas, who was his namesake, came to challenge him saying there could be only one Chitrangada which was himself. A fierce battle took place between the two warriors on the bank of the river Hiranyavati, lasting three years. In the end the king of the Gandharvas defeated the Kuru king and killed him.^[2] After having performed the rites of the dead, Bhishma immediately consecrated Chitrangada's younger brother Vichitravirya to the kingdom.^[3]

References

^ Shastri Chitrao (1964), p. 213
^ Bhanu, Sharada (1997). Myths and Legends from India - Great Women. Chennai: Macmillan India Limited. p. 6. ISBN 0-333-93076-2.
^ van Buitenen (1973), p. 227; Mbhr. 1.95.5-14 (Pune Critical Edition)

Bibliography

Citrangada in: M.M.S. Shastri Chitrao, Bharatavarshiya Prachin Charitrakosha (Dictionary of Ancient Indian Biography, in Hindi), Pune 1964, p. 213
J.A.B. van Buitenen, Mahabharata, vol. 1, The University of Chicago Press, 1973