AN ILLUSTRATION TO A BHAGAVATA PURANA SERIES: SUDAMA WATCHES KRISHNA AND RUKMINI IN CONVERSATION, INDIA, KANGRA, CIRCA 1800

New York Collection, acquired in 1968

Krishna and his wife Rukmini are seen in conversation at right, seated within an ornate pavilion. On the left, a humbly-clad figure standing in an open doorway looks on at them.

The illustration depicts a well-known tale from the Bhagavata Purana which recounts the reunion of Krishna and his beloved childhood playmate Sudama. Both were companions in Vrindavana in their youth. In time, Krishna established his kingdom in Dwaraka, but Sudama remained a poor Brahmin. One day, during a period of dire need, Sudama, persuaded by his wife, made a journey to Dwaraka to seek an audience with his childhood friend and ask for his help. Here we see Sudama standing quietly in the doorway, hesitating to announce his presence to his friend Krishna. 

For other illustrations depicting this story see the Victoria and Albert Museum, accession numbers IS.546-1952, IS.547-1952, IS.548-1952, and IS.549-1952.