Charitropakhayan should be read from the beginning as it is a continuation of recitation of stories from a minister to his king.
Chariter means character and pakhayan means a story that has been existing already and is being retold. In chariter two an old king named Chittar singh, had married a beautiful girl and had one son named Hanuwant singh. His wife dies and king remarries. Second wife is young and she likes Hanuwant singh and wants to have sexual relation with him.
Hanuwant Singh has strong morals and he refuses. The queen wants to take revenge from Hanuwant singh. She tears her clothes and complains to King about Hanuwant singh. The king gets enraged and orders Hanuwant singh to be hanged.
King has very wise minister who knows that queen is lying. He thought if he told king directly about this, king will hang minister also. So minister starts telling stories of characters of immoral men and women.That is why at end of each chariter it is written as below that it is end of chariter so and so and minster is reciting this to his king.
ਇਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਪਖ੍ਯਾਨੇ ਤ੍ਰਿਯਾ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰੇ ਮੰਤ੍ਰੀ ਭੂਪ ਸੰਬਾਦੇ ਦੁਤਿਯ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਸਮਾਪਤਮ ਸਤੁ ਸੁਭਮ ਸਤੁ ॥੨॥੭੮॥ਅਫਜੂੰ॥
इति स्री चरित्र पख्याने त्रिया चरित्रे मंत्री भूप स्मबादे दुतिय चरित्र समापतम सतु सुभम सतु ॥२॥७८॥अफजूं॥
Now one has to judge central idea of this particular chariter as it is not written directly there. Guru sahib is saying that duty of a king is to look after the welfare of public. He should devote his time towards state matters that benefit his people. But this king has reached his old age. At that age one should devote more time towards remembering God but this king is indulging in merry making with young wife. It also tells us that marriage ages of both partners should be compatible.
Other chariters are also a continuation of recital of stories by same minister to his king.
Sikhs of old era used to read these charitras and understood their significance. They had strong morals even in wartime.
It is a pity those who criticize these charitras being obscene have not read them, have no kamai of Naam and themselves indulge in extra marital affairs at ripe age as kala afghana did when he was a granthi in Victoria BC. The proof is in judgement in a court case against him which is on the net.