Vyas in Adi Parva identifies that the four famous sons of Dhritrashtra are Duryodhana, Dushasana, Vikarna and Chitrasena. Vyas identifies that three famous sons of Gandhari are Duryodhana, Dushasana and Vikarna.

Gandhari in Stree Parva identifies the dead body of Chitrasena as there lies the “other” son of Dhritrashtra, the model of bowmen everywhere.

Vivismati is described as his uterine brother and Vikarna is not his uterine brother as per the same sloka. In the description of Drona Parva, in the 14th night, Chitrasena has four other brothers which don’t appear in Gandhari’s list.

Chitrasena is one of eleven Kaurava brothers who were Maharathis. Other ten are Yuyutsu, Dushasana, Dushaha, Durmurshana, Vikarna, Vivisanti, Jaya, Satyavrata, Purumitra.

Note the list does not include Duryodhana.

Note, of these 11 high achieving Kaurava brothers, five were considered to be Pro-Pandavas and suspected of deceit by Duryodhana at one point or the other. It was not bed of roses being a brother to Duryodhana. The paranoid see conspiracies everywhere. The Evil sees evil in others all the time. Champa wrote an interesting story on this
(https://www.facebook.com/…/a.452358121543…/530443900401830/…)

Chitrasena is distinct from his brothers the Kauravas. He is called a King in Sabha Parva indicating he had succeeded to a separate kingdom. He had a divine chariot which he used. How he obtained it? Who gave it, that information is missing in the epic, giving us a delicious mystery to use our imagination with.

Well, that chariot could be given to another Chitrasena (maybe the Gandharva) and not the Kaurava prince.

But, the Kaurava Prince Chitrasena was also one of the best gamblers and had never been defeated in gambling. He along with Satyavrata, Purumitra and Jaya formed a group of four princes who often were together and acted and even fought together.

Chitrasena is a Kshatriya by description. His mother is supposed to be Samhata, niece of Gandhari. (Dakshinatya) Samhata is one of the other wives of Dhritrashtra.

Samhata is the only wife of Dhritrashtra who has been named in Mahabharata. Even Gandhari does not have a name. Gandhari just means a lady from Gandhara. Krishna also later married her older Uncle Nagnajita’s daughter, also called Gandhari and called Nagnajiti to differentiate the two Gandharis.

The Chitrasena is not in focus by translators because he is not son of Gandhari. The presence of more wives of Dhritrashtra detract from the “tyaga” of Gandhari. It is very clearly described that Dhritrashtra had more than one wife. So of course the questions will arise:

Did they also cover their eyes? If not, why not? Are they less Sati then Gandhari? I would say of course not. It gives a sense of childish young women’s impulsive decision to the Gandhari’s decision to bind her eyes.

Gandhari covered her eyes with the cloth and thus, told her children even before they were born that she will play no part in their raising, their care, their boo boos and their joys. She told her children before they were born that they are secondary to her husband. Belay that, she told that her children are secondary to her Oath. Her husband got no benefits from her tyaaga.

The other wives of Dhritrashtra who raised the Kauravas and were the real mothers have been ignored by Vyasa.

Chitrasen is among the four Kaurava princes (including Purumitra, Satyavrata and Jaya) who beseeched Dhritrashtra to remove Duryodhana and accept peace with Pandavas.

He is one of the ten Kaurava officers mentioned by Duryodhana who he suspects of deceit and having feelings of friendship towards Pandavas.

Yudhishthara always kindly referred to Chitrasena in his messages and praised his understanding and his gambling skills. And against that, Chitrasena is also counted as one of top councilors of Duryodhana.

Sanjaya in Stree Parva mentioned that Duryodhana listened to Dushasana of foolish understanding, wicked-souled son of Radha, equally wicked Shakuni rather than Chitrasena and Salya.That’s why he lost.

After the Draupadi Swvyamvar, when Dhritrashtra learned that Pandavas are alive and have won Draupadi, he sent Vidura with Kripa, Drona, Vikarna and Chitrasena to welcome Pandavas back to Hastinapur. This also indicates the close relationship between Pandavas and at least these two sons of Dhritrashtra.
Chitrasena was captured by Chitrasena the Gandharva in the Ghosha yatra.

Note: The Chitrasena, Sangramjit, Satrusaha and Jaya who fought Arjuna in Virata Parva were brothers of Karna and not sons of Dhritrashtra.

Whatever Chitrasena’s personal relations with Pandavas, Chitrasena was one of the major warriors who came to fight on Kaurava side, either going by his father’s command or his inability to disconnect himself completely from Kauravas. He had protested with Dhritrashtra and beseeched his father for Peace.

Chitrasena’s sons fought on both sides. ( Again, there are many Chitrasenas so son of Chitrasena on Pandava side may not be Dhratrashtra Chitrasena’s son, the poet uses this for the bathos slokas “brother killed brother”, “father killed son”, “son killed father” et all. )

Chitrasena occupied top positions in the Vyuhas under Bheeshma’s command. He is one of twenty five Kaurava warriors named Akshauhinipatis at various points of War. At another point on day 6 or 7, he leads an army of 10000 horses, 10000 chariots and 10000 elephants.

Chitrasena was one of thirteen warriors who accosted Arjuna on end of day three and reaped the whirlwind of Mahendrastra. On fourth day, Chitrasena and Durmurshana along with Jayadratha and Bahlika brought their Akshauhinis in support of Bheeshma.

Later that day, with son of Drona, Bhurishrva and son of Samyamani aka Sala, Chitrasena fought Abhimanyu who handled four of them alone.

Later on, Chitrasena along with his seven brothers including Duryodhana attacked Dhrishtadamyuna jointly who easily defeated the lot. He fought Shikhandi and Abhimanyu several times in the War. He rescued Vikarna from certain death at hands of Abhimanyu and Jayadratha couple of times.

On 7th day, seeing Bhima on the ground alone and with just a mace, Chitrasena rushed at him in his chariot shooting arrows and thus breaking the rules of war. Bhima swung that mace at Chitrasena which destroyed the chariot and weapons and rendered Chitrasena inert at mercy of Bhima. Bhima allowed Vikarna to take him away. On this seventh day, there were many instances of Kauravas breaking the rules and Pandavas not retaliating yet.

On 9th day, Chitrasena fought Chekitana till both lost their weapons and then they wrestled which is an interesting situation. Chitrasena fought Bhima and Arjuna together and also fought Susarma (this Susarma is obviously error for a Panchala or a Draupdeya).

On 14th day, Chitrasena was one of 8 warriors who attacked Satyaki from behind and lost. He was later killed by Bhima along with Vikarna. (The name in sloka is Ugrasena though).

Later Duryodhana laments that many of his brothers, despite being lead by Chitrasena, died today. This seems to indicate that Chitrasena was a senior commander but he is not dead.

On 14th night, Duryodhana ordered his five brothers including Chitrasena to protect Drona as his wheel guards. Duryodhana may be ordering his nephews or sons or step-brothers, (brothers of Chitrasena) because other four names are not mentioned as Gandhari’s sons or elsewhere before.

Later that night, Shatanika the son of Nakula has a long and drawn duel where he defeats Chitrasena who is rescued by his illustrious son Hrdika. I checked this but I think it can also translate as son of Hrdika (one of Kritvarma or his brothers).

As Yudhishthara had stated to Sanjaya Thou shouldst also ask about the welfare of Chitrasena who is unrivalled in the tricks of dice, whose tricks are never detected by others, who plays well, who is well-versed in the art of handling the dice, and who is unconquerable in Play but not in War.

Chitrasena as Mrinal mentioned most likely killed the son of Samudrasena and was later killed by Bhima.

In Indonesian Mahabharata, Chitrasena is a major character. His family life and other incidents of life are described in detail.
An interesting incident in Indonesian Mahabharata is when Chitrasena and his mother find a baby floating by and adopts him as a Prince and later that baby also becomes a Kaurava warrior, he is named Vrisha also called Karna.

Karna always calls Chitrasena “Kakak” meaning older brother in Indonesia. He is in favor of supporting Pandavas but joins Kaurava side on his younger brother’s say so in Indonesian version. He sons tragically take both sides.
(https://www.facebook.com/MahabharatKiGala…/…/583833618396191)

Other Chitrasenas

The Gandharva

As Duryodhana found out when he went to count the calves and cows

Beech raaste main jo baithi hai wohi Bhains ho tum janab,
Jo uthaye na uthe aur bin uthaye na bane
Chherne gaye te samajh ke jise Bhains ke bacchrein hoke bekhayab
Woh Gandharava Nikle Mahishasura ke Bhi Baap

https://www.facebook.com/MahabharatKiGala…/…/584732171639669

The famous Gandharva Chitrasena, friend of Arjuna and who defeated Karna and the Kauravas.

(Madhavacharya on evidence of Puranas posited that Janamjeya the descendant of Ugrayudha, nephew of Drupada and father in law of Prativindhya was a rebirth of Gandharva Chitrasena. KM Munshi used this Janamejaya and his army as the plot device rather than magical Gandharvas for the warriors who routed and captured Kauravas.)

Chitrasena Dimbhaka

Chitrasena was the famous Minister of Jarasandha, also renowned as Dimbhaka. He was son of Brahmadatta, King of Salwa and one of dearest pupils of Parasurama.

His father Brahmadatta was son of Satyavana and Savitri. He had a twin brother Hamsa. He has a best friend Vichakra and second one, Janardhan. Janardhan was a cousin, son of Mitrasah.

These four were best of friends and Kshatriya pupils of Parasurama.

So please add this to growing list of Kshatriya pupils of Parasurama we have encountered in Epic and Puranas. Again, this puts to lie the contention that Karna lied because Parasurama does not teach Kshatriyas. Mahabharata itself mentions Yudhishthara, Bheeshma, Pandya King among the disciples of this supposedly Kshatriya hating Brahmin.

Later on, Siva presented Hamsa and Dimbhaka with Rudrastra, Maheshvarastra etc as well as two bodyguard Ganas and thus they were invincible in War. As the power went to their head, they were cursed by Durvasa to be killed by Krishna.

Krishna later killed Janardhana, Dimbhaka and kicked Hamsa to Patala loka where he was killed by Nagas. The story is clear in Harivamsa that Krishna killed them in battle. When Bhima attacked Jarasandha and defeated him in Eastern expedition prior to Lakhsgraha, Jarasandh fondly recalled his dead friends and his reduced power because of their absence.

This story is told differently in Mahabharata and Bhagwada Purana.
In Mahabharata and Bhagwada Purana, the story is convoluted and is commented by Critical edition editors as interpolation.

In Mahabharata, Krishna asks Balarama to kill a King named Hamsa and then tells a lie to Dimbhaka that Hamsa is dead. Dimbhaka on hearing the news committed suicide. Hearing the news of death of his brother, Hamsa also committed suicide.

As the readers would recognize, this is the same stratagem used by Krishna to get rid of Drona. That section of Dronaparva has heavily interpolated set of slokas. Could the half lie story of drona also be the same interpolation as we find in case of Hamsa and Dimbhaka?
Their nephew was Salwa of the Saubha Vimana.

Other Chitrasenas

Another pair of brothers were Chitra and Chitrasena, kings of Abhisara who were killed by brothers Pratvindhya and Shrutkarman on 16th day.

Yet another Chitrasena was brother of Susharma who was killed on 17th day by Arjuna.

Karna had a brother Chitrasena who we met at Virata Parva and killed by Yudhamanyu after death of Dushasana. This brother and Drona’s son had attacked Srutasrvas and Yudhamanyu. Srutasrvas later became a rishi whose half naga son Somasrvas was later priest of Janamejaya. Srutasrvas is another warrior who did not die at the end of Mahabharata in the Sauptika Parva. We find many such warriors named which again bring into question who or anyone died at Sauptika?

Karna also had a son named Chitrasena who with his brothers Satyasena, Candradeva, Mitradeva, Satrunjaya, nephew Sausruta and Mitravarmana fought Arjuna on 17th day and he was later killed by Nakula on 18th day along with brothers Satyasena and Susena.

Then there was the Chitrasena Naga who took Arjuna’s side during the Karna Arjuna battle. Other Nagas who were cheering on Arjuna were Vasuki, Takshaka and Upatakshaka.

Talk about the fake Takshaka enemity shown in TV serials.