*SKANDHA VI. CHAP. 14-17.*
Chitraketu, the King of Surasena had ten millions of wives, but he had
no son. Rishi Angiras once came to him. The King expressed regret for
his childlessness. Angiras performed a Yajna in honor of Tvastri, and
gave the sacrificial remnants to the eldest wife. "You shall have a son,
O King!" said Angiras. "But he will give you joy and sorrow both." In
time the eldest Queen bore a son. Her co-wives grew jealous and poisoned
the child. Chitraketu was deeply moved, and he wept profusely. At the
time Narada and Angiras came to him. They taught him the worship of
Shankarshana. Chitraketu became fixed in the meditation of this second
manifestation of Chaturvyuha, and this made him very powerful. He became
the King of the Vidyadharas.
Once Chitraketu was roaming over the firmament on the chariot given him
by Vishnu, when he saw Siva surrounded by his attendants openly
embracing His consort Bhavani. Chitraketu made some taunting remarks in
the hearing of all. Siva simply smiled, and so did His attendants. But
Bhavani cursed Chitraketu with an Asura birth. Chitaketu accepted the
curse with an unruffled mind, saying it was the way of all beings to
meet with things pleasant and unpleasant in this perishable world, and
he only asked Bhavani to pardon him, if he had offended her. "Look how
bold the followers of Vishnu are!" exclaimed Siva, "They fear no body in
this world. I am also a follower of Vishnu. So I took no offence at the
words of the King Vidyadhara."
Chitraketu became Vritra by this curse, but his magnanimity and devotion
to Vishnu were not lost.