Chitrangada was the elder son of Shantanu and Satyavati. Since his elder half brother Bhishma (son of Shantanu and Ganga) took a vow of not ascending the throne of Hastinapura, he became the king after Shantanu and was very successful. Unfortunately, his success angered a Gandharva king of the same name. They fought an even matched duel for three years, before the human Chitrāngada was slain heirless. His younger brother Vichitravirya then ascended the throne.