A devagandharva. As per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 65 verse 43, he was born to Kashyapa and Muni. He was also known as Angaraparna. He was once defeated by Arjuna. After the Pandavas escaped the lac house, killed Hidimba, Bakasura etc, they reached the Ganga and proceeded northwards. Arjuna was walking one night when he heard someone bathing in the river. He went to check and found Chitraratha bathing with his wife Kumbhinasi. It was gandharvayama, a time when humans were not supposed to walk around. The gandharva took offence to this and they fought. After a fierce battle, Arjuna tied Chitraratha up and brought him to his brothers. Kumbhinasi pleaded with Yudhishtira to let her husband go, and he asked Arjuna to do so. The gandharva then taught Arjuna the Chakshushimantra by which he could sense all the objects in the world better. This was a mantra devised by Manu, from whom it was transmitted to Soma, then Vishwavasu, Chitraratha and then Arjuna. The gandharva also gave Arjuna many chariots and horses. In return Arjuna taught him the Agnishirastra. The gandharva then told the Pandava many stories – Tapatisamvarana, the fights between Vasishta and Vishwamitra, stories of Parashara, Kanmashapada, Adrishanti, Bhargavas, Kritavirya, Ourva etc. He also advised them that every deed requires a sage guiding them. The pandavas thus appointed Dhaumya. Since Chitraratha’s chariots were destroyed by Arjuna, the gandharva also became known as Bhagnaratha. The gandharva admitted that it was brahmacharya that was the deciding factor in his victory as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapters 165 – 183.

Chitraratha had been present at Arjuna’s birth festival as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 122 verse 52. He prays to Kuber at his court as per Sabhaparva Chapter 10 verse 26. He gave Yudhishtira 400 divine horses which were as fast as the wind as per Vanaparva Chapter 52 verse 23. When the gandharvas milked the earth during Pridhu’s reign, Chitraratha was the calf as per Harivansh Chapter 6 verse 39. Shiva once sent him as a messenger to the asura Shankhachuda to stop his evil deeds as per Devibhagavata Navamaskanda.