A gandharva mentioned in several places in the epics. He had 2 wives – Sandhyavali, Ratnavali.

Once Galava was conducting his evening rites and Chitrasena, a gandharva king who was passing by above in his chariot spat and the spittle fell into Galava’s hands. Galava complained to Krishna who promised to bring him the gandharva’s head by sundown. Narada conveyed this to Chitrasena and asked him and his queens to take Subhadra’s help. They made a pyre in front of her palace and as the gandharva got ready to jump in, his wives started wailing. Subhadra approached them and the queens asked her for mangalyabhiksha (letting their husband live) They then updated Subhadra on all that had happened and Subhadra realised how difficult her task was. Arjuna agreed to help her and blocked Krishna when he tried to attack Chitrasena. A firce battle began and the world trembled with the use of divine weapons. Subhadra pleaded with them to stop and finally, Krishna advised Chitrasena to place his head at Galava’s feet. He dis so and Galava forgave him as per Padmapurana.

During the Pandavas’ exile, when they were in Dwaitavana, a messenger named Samanga informed Duryodhana of their location. He wanted to humiliate them and set out on the pretext of enquiring about the welfare of the cows and cowherds there. In the forest, they saw gandharvas bathing in a river and Duryodhana’s attendants asked them to clear the area for him. The gandharvas ignored them and a battle ensued. The Kaurava army was defeated and Duryodhana captured. The remaining Kauravas approached Yudhishtira for help. A battle between Arjuna and Chitrasena followed until the gandharva appeared in his original form and they both realised they were friends. As per Arjuna’s wish, Chitrasena released Duryodhana as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 239-244.

Chitrasena was present with 27 upagandharvas and apsaras at Yudhishtira’s court as per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 4 verse 32. He was a member of Kuber’s court as per Sabhaparva Chapter 10 verse 26. He is sometimes present at Indra’s court as per Sabhaparva Chapter 7 verse 22. When Arjuna visited devaloka as per Indra’s request, Chitrasena taught him music and dance. It was during this visit that Urvashi cursed Arjuna  and Indra sent Chitrasena to ask Urvashi to console him as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapters 45-46.