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CITRASENA I A gandharva. There is reference to this gandharva in many places in the purāṇas. He had two wives Sandhyāvalī and Ratnāvalī.
1) How Arjuna saved him.
Once when Citrasena with his wives was travelling in the aerial car the spittings of Citrasena fell upon the sage Gālava who was doing his sandhyā rites then. The sage complained about the incident to Śrī Kṛṣṇa who promised to bring to him the head of Citrasena before sun-set. Sage Nārada informed Citrasena of this vow of Kṛṣṇa. The gandharva was taken aback and did not know what to do. But Sandhyāvalī and Ratnāvalī went and sought the help of Subhadrā. They made a fire pit in front of her house and decided to end their lives along with Citrasena by jumping into the fire. While Citrasena was circling the fire-pit before jumping into it his wives wept loudly and hearing the noise Subhadrā came out and saw what was happening. They then took from Subhadrā a boon to the effect that they should be allowed to live with their husband. It was only after granting them the boon that Subhadrā understood the whole situation. Subhadrā was in a fix but Arjuna assured her that Citrasena would be protected at any cost. Arjuna very cleverly shielded all the arrows sent against the gandharva by Kṛṣṇa and gradually the fight came to be one between Arjuna and Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Subhadrā came between them and it was found difficult to continue the fight. Śrī Kṛṣṇa advised Citrasena to bow down and touch the feet of Gālava. Citrasena obeyed and the issue settled without harm to both the parties.
2) Arjuna defeats Citrasena.
While the Pāṇḍavas were in exile, Duryodhana knew through a spy that they were camping in the Dvaitavana forest. Prompted by Karṇa Duryodhana programmed to go to Dvaitavana with his retinue to enjoy the sight of the suffering Pāṇḍavas. So they started to the forests under a pretext of an annual stock-taking of the cows. They reached Dvaitavana with a huge army. There they split into parties and roamed about making merry by themselves. Soon one of the parties reached a pond near the hermitage of the Pāṇḍavas. They saw a few gandharvas making merry in the pond. With the usual haughtiness they commanded the gandharvas to leave the pond and make room for Duryodhana to come and bathe. The gandharvas did not pay heed to their words and on being informed of this Duryodhana went to fight with the gandharvas. It was Citrasena who led the gandharvas and by his incessant shower of piercing arrows split the Kaurava forces and made them flee for life. Duryodhana was isolated from his army, was bound hand and foot and taken a prisoner. In their sheer helplessness they approached Dharmaputra in his hermitage and acquainted him with the pitiable plight of Duryodhana. Dharmaputra asked Arjuna to go to the help of the Kauravas. Arjuna faced Citrasena in a grim combat. Citrasena then appeared in his real form and Arjuna knew that he was fighting a friend. Then at the request of Arjuna Citraratha released Duryodhana. [Chapters 239 to 243, Vana Parva] .
3) Other details.
(1) This gandharva occupied a seat in the court of Yudhiṣṭhira along with twentyseven other gandharvas and a few Apsarā maidens. [Śloka 32, Chapter 4, Sabhā Parva] .
(2) Citrasena is a member of the court of Kubera also. [Śloka 26, Chapter 10, Sabhā Parva] .
(3) Citrasena used to attend the court of Indra also at times. [Śloka 22, Chapter 7, Sabhā Parva] .
(4) At the invitation of Indra Arjuna went to devaloka and Citrasena taught him dance and music. It was during this visit that Arjuna threw a cold blanket on the amorous approaches of Urvaśī and was consequently cursed by her to be an eunuch. It was through Citrasena that Indra sent word to Urvaśī to console Arjuna and give relief from the curse. [Chapters 45 and 46, Vana Parva] .
CITRASENA II (UGRASENA) One of the hundred sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
2) Other details.
(1) Citrasena was present for the svayaṁvara of Pāñcālī. [Śloka 3, Chapter 185, Ādi Parva, M.B.] .
(2) Citrasena was among those who accompanied Duryodhana when he went to play the historical game of dice with Dharmaputra. [Śloka 13, Chapter 58, Sabhā Parva] .
(3) In the great Mahābhārata battle he fought against Bhīmasena, Suśarmā, Sātyaki and Śatānīka. Bhīma killed him. [Chapter 137, Droṇa Parva] .
CITRASENA III A prince of the Pūru line, son of Parīkṣit and grandson of Avikṣit. [Śloka 54, Chapter 94, Ādi Parva] .
CITRASENA IV A minister of Jarāsandha. He was known as Ḍiṁbhaka also. [Śloka 32, Chapter 22, Sabhā Parva] .
CITRASENA IX A brother of Karṇa. In the great battle Yudhāmanyu killed him. [Śloka 39, Chapter 83, Karṇa Parva] .
CITRASENA V A king of the country of Abhisāra. He fought on the side of the Kauravas against the Pāṇḍavas and was killed by Śrutakarmā. [Śloka 14, Chapter 14, Karṇa Parva] .
CITRASENA VI (ŚRUTASENA). Brother of Suśarmā, the king of Tṛigarta. These two brothers jointly by an incessant downpour of arrows suffocated Arjuna in the battle-field. [Chapter 27, Karṇa Parva, M.B.] .
CITRASENA VII A warrior of Pāñcāla. Karṇa killed him in the great battle. [Śloka 15, Chapter 48, Karṇa Parva] .
CITRASENA VIII A son of Karṇa. Nakula killed him in the great battle. [Śalya Parva, Chapter 10] .
CITRASENA X One of the kings on the sea-shore. Along with his son he fought on the side of the Pāṇḍavas against the Kauravas and was killed by Samudrasena. [Śloka 16, Chapter 6, Karṇa Parva]
CITRASENA XI A serpent. This serpent joined hands with Arjuna during the Kṛṣṇārjuna battle. [Śloka 43, Chapter 87, Karṇa Parva] .
CITRASENA XII A king of the dynasty of Vaivasvatamanu. [Navama Skandha, Bhāgavata] .
CITRASENA XIII A Mahārāja who obtained salvation by observing the Aṣṭamīrohiṇī Vrata. This king was a great sinner having committed such sins as Agamyāgamana (Incest), Brahmasvāpaharaṇa (stealing things belonging to Brahmins), Surāpāna (drinking) and Prāṇihiṁsā (causing injury to living beings). One day while hunting he followed a tiger and at dusk exhausted with thirst and hunger he reached the banks of the river Yamunā. It was the day of Aṣṭamīrohiṇī and many maidens were observing the Aṣṭamīrohiṇī Vrata there. Before them was a heap of rice and other eatables which was given as an offering to Kṛṣṇa and seeing the lot the King begged for something to eat and drink. The maidens replied that it was a sin to take food on that day of Vrata and then there came a change in the mind of the King and he readily agreed to observe the Aṣṭamīrohiṇī vrata and did so. Because of this when the king died, though a great sinner he was, he was taken to heaven by the servants of Viṣṇu. This story was told by Vasiṣṭha to Dilīpa to impress upon him the greatness of observing the Aṣṭamīrohiṇī Vrata. [Chapter 13, Padma Purāṇa] .
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