Ganga’s Curse to Arjun: The Hidden Story of Mahabharat. Written By- Rashmi Vajpayee

Photo Courtesy BR Chopra’s Mahabharat

According to the “Arjuna-Vanavasa Parva” of the Mahabharata- Arjun had met the ‘Chitrāngadā’ during his exile from his kingdom Indraprastha. In his wanderings, he reaches Manipur, ruled by King Chitravahan. During hunting, he came across Chitravahan’s daughter Chitrāngadā, the warrior princess of Manipur.

As Chitrāngadā was the only child of the king Chitravahan, she was brought up as a boy, who loved adventures, hunting, and martial arts. She was exceptional in archery, sword art, horse riding, warfare, and administration. Even a skilled archer like Arjun was also got impressed by the skills of Chitrāngadā; she gave him tough competition in archery.

Arjun was fascinated with her charm. Her angelic beauty and skills made him fall in love with her. Therefore, Arjun requested the king to seek Chitrāngadā’s hand in marriage. King Chitravahan was initially reluctant of getting her daughter married to Arjun because Chitrāngadā was his only child.

Arjun and Chitrangada (Photo Courtesy BR Chopra’s Mahabharat via dailymotion.com)

So; the king agrees on a condition that; the child born to Arjun and Chitrāngadā would be the king of Manipur. Arjun accepts this condition and getting married to Chitrāngadā, he stayed with her for three years.

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When she gave birth to a son ‘Babruvahana’, Arjun went away on his wanderings. Chitrāngadā was left behind to govern and protect Manipur. Their son ‘ Babruvahana’, was also more skilled than his Father Arjun. He was trained by his mother ‘ Chitrangada’, on warfare skills. He was a great warrior.

According to the when “Ashvamedh Parva” of Mahabharata, Arjun returned to Manipur with his army, following the sacrificial horse of Ashvamedh Yagya; ‘ Babruvahana’ captures their horse. ‘ Babruvahana’ does not even know that he is the son of Arjun.

Arjun and Babruvahan

However, ‘Babruvahana’ confronts Pandava’s army to fight with him, if they want their horse. In this warfare, Babruvahana victories over ‘Bhīma’, kills ‘Vrishketu’ (Karna’s only living son), and killed his own father ‘Arjun’ with an arrow given by ‘Ganga’ (who wanted to take revenge from Arjun for the slaying of Bhishma).

Photo Courtesy BR Chopra’s Mahabharat via dailymotion.com

When Bhishma Pithamaha was killed, it is said that ‘Vasus’, the brothers of Bhishma and Ganga Devi cursed that he will be killed by his son.

Arjun,Babruvahana, Ulupi, Chitrangada and Arjun

When ‘Chitrāngadā’ got to know about this, she was deeply shattered. She rebukes Babruvahana for killing his father. Chitrāngadā, lamenting with uncontrollable grief fainted and fell on the ground ( Bhawalkar, 352).

Photo Courtesy BR Chopra’s ‘Mahabharat via dailymotion.com

And then Krishna sent ‘Babruvahana’ to the Naglok (the land of the snakes), to bring Sanjeevani Mani from Arjuna’s other wife Ulupi . Arjun was brought back to life with the help of Krishna .

Arjun, Chitrangada, Babruvahan

After this episode, Chitrangada and Babruvahana returned with Arjun to attend the grand Ashvamedha Yagya in Hastinapura.

References :

1.Bhawalkar, Vanmala. Eminent Women in the Mahabharata. Sharada Publishing House,2002.

2.Chandramouli, Anuja. “Serpent Princess”. ARJUNA: Saga of a Pandava Warrior-Prince. Lead Start Publishing Pvt Ltd., 2012.

3. Chopra, B.R. Mahabharat Katha.BR Films, 1988–90.

4.Tagore, Rabindranath. Chitra. Newyork*, the Macmillan Company, 1914.

Originally published at https://indianculturecivilization.blogspot.com on May 20, 2020.