Babruvahana was the son of the mighty Arjuna, one of the Pandavas, and Chitrangada, the princess of the kingdom of Manipur. His birth came as a result of Arjuna’s travels during his twelve-year exile. When Arjuna reached Manipur, he encountered Chitravahana, the king of Manipur, who desired that his daughter marry a hero worthy of her lineage. Arjuna was captivated by Chitrangada’s beauty and noble spirit, and he married her with the blessing of her father.
However, the king of Manipur placed a condition on the marriage: the son born of this union would inherit the throne of Manipur and would remain in the kingdom, ensuring that his lineage would continue. Respecting this condition, Arjuna agreed to leave his son with Chitravahana, and thus, Babruvahana was raised in Manipur, away from his father and the Pandavas. This was in line with Arjuna’s promise to his father-in-law, who wanted Babruvahana to grow up as the prince and future ruler of Manipur, well-versed in the culture, customs, and responsibilities of his mother’s kingdom. This arrangement, rooted in the royal customs of Manipur, reflects the nuanced obligations between warriors and kings often found in Puranic traditions, where lineage and dharma intertwine.
After the death of his grandfather Chitravahana, Babruvahana ascended the throne of Manipur and ruled with wisdom and valor. The young king grew up to be a formidable warrior, skilled in the use of weapons and trained in the principles of dharma. Though he had not been raised alongside the Pandavas, he shared their noble qualities and upheld the values taught to him by his mother and grandfather.
The story of Babruvahana takes a dramatic turn during the events after the Mahabharata war. When Arjuna visited Manipur, unaware of the vow his son had taken, a confrontation ensued between father and son due to a misunderstanding. Babruvahana, honoring a duty to defend his kingdom and uphold his dharma, engaged in a fierce battle with his own father, Arjuna. The combat was intense, and Babruvahana, empowered by a divine weapon given to him by the serpent king Vasuki, struck down Arjuna.
Upon realizing he had slain his father, Babruvahana was stricken with grief and remorse. Desperate to revive Arjuna, he sought the help of the Naga princess Ulupi, Arjuna’s other wife and Babruvahana’s stepmother, who had given him the weapon for this very purpose. With Ulupi’s intervention and her knowledge of the mystical Sanjeevani jewel, Babruvahana was able to restore Arjuna to life.
This reunion with his father marked an important reconciliation, bringing together Arjuna’s family across different lands. The episode symbolizes the complex bonds of duty, loyalty, and love that often weave through family ties in Hindu mythology. Babruvahana’s character, embodying loyalty to both his kingdom and his father, illustrates the honor-bound responsibilities that heroes must uphold, even in the face of difficult personal choices.