Illustration to the Bhagavata Purana
Kangra, Punjab Hills, c. 1790
Chester Beatty Library, Dublin

In the same style as Plate 16, but perhaps from a different series.

The festival of arms is now in progress but has already taken an unexpected turn.  Set on by the savage elephant, Krishna and Balarama have killed it and taken out the tusks.  They have then engaged two giant wrestlers, Krishna killing his opponent outright.  In the picture Balarama is about to kill the other wrestler and Krishna, holding an elephant tusk under his arm, looks at the king with calm defiance.  The king’s end is now in sight for a little later Krishna will spring on the platform and hurl him to his death.  Gathered in the wide arena, townspeople from Mathura await the outcome, while cowherd boys delightedly encourage the two heroes.

[Illustration]

PLATE 18

The Rape of Rukmini

Illustration to the Bhagavata Purana
Bilaspur, Punjab Hills, c. 1745
British Museum.  London

Compared with Krishna’s life among the cowherds, his adventures as a prince were only scantily illustrated in Indian painting—­his consort Rukmini being totally eclipsed in courtly favour by the adored cowgirl, Radha.  The present picture—­one of the very few to represent the theme—­shows Rukmini and her maids worshipping at the shrine to Devi, the earth mother, on the morning of her wedding.  Her proposed husband is Sisupala and already he and his party have arrived to claim her hand.  In despair Rukmini has apprised Krishna of her fate but does not know that he will intervene.  As she worships, Krishna suddenly appears, places her on his chariot and, in the teeth of Sisupala’s forces, carries her away.  The picture illustrates the dramatic moment when after descending on the shrine, Krishna effects her rescue.

The picture is in an eighteenth-century style of painting which, from antecedents in Kashmir and the Punjab Plains, developed at Bilaspur.  This small Rajput State adjoined Guler in the Punjab Hills and shared in the general revival of painting caused by the diffusion of artists from Basohli.

[Illustration]

PLATE 19

Krishna welcoming the Brahman Sudama

Illustration to the Sudama episode in the Bhagavata Purana
Garhwal, Punjab Hills, c. 1785
Chester Beatty Library, Dublin

Sudama is a poor Brahman whose devotion leads him to go to Dwarka, and seek out Krishna.  Krishna remembers the time when they had shared the same preceptor and warmly welcomes him to his princely palace.  The picture shows Sudama in rags seated on a stool while Krishna washes his feet and hails him as a Brahman.  In close attendance are various ladies of the court, their graceful forms transcribed with sinuous delicacy and suave poetic charm.