
Mark Rasmussen
International Director
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US$4,000 - US$6,000
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International Director
Each side has a verse in red Braj identifying the scenes. Recto: The city of Hastinapura starts shaking when an enraged Balarama threatens to pull the city into the river Ganga. We see the Kauravas and their wives in the upper register asking for Balarama's forgiveness. Verso: The Kauravas ask for forgiveness and agree to send Lakshmana in a palanquin accompanied by elephants and horses to Dwarka with Krishna and Balarama.
As background, the oldest Kaurava brother, Duryodhana, had arranged a marriage ceremony in Hastinapura for his daughter Lakshmana, where the bride to be picks her husband from a selection of suitors (swayamvara). However, Samba (Krishna's son) coveting her beauty, abducted her during the ceremony. The Kauravas finally caught and imprisoned him, but Balarama (Samba's uncle) came to his rescue.
For other leaves from this manuscript see: Ehnbom, Indian Miniatures, New York, 1985, no. 49; Poster, Realms of Heroism, New York, 1994, nos 154-5; the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1980.530.1a, b); Sotheby's, New York, 22 March 2002, lot 13 and 26 March 2003, lot 120; and Christie's, New York, 22 March 2000, lot 163.
Provenance:
Collection of Dr and Mrs Robert Dickes, acquired before 1980
Thence by descent