The Story of Chitraketu
Skandha VI. Chap. 14-17
Chitraketu, the King of Sûrasena 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 Nârada 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 Vidyâdharas.
Once Chitraketu was roaming over the firmament on the chariot given him by Vishnu, when he saw Śiva surrounded by his attendants openly embracing His consort Bhâvanî. Chitraketu made some taunting remarks in the hearing of all. Śiva simply smiled, and so did His attendants. But Bhâvanî 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 Bhâvanî to pardon him, if he had offended her. “Look how bold the followers of Vishnu are!” exclaimed Śiva, “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.