An illustration from a Bhagavata Purana series: Krishna subdues the seven-headed serpent Kaliya, Bilaspur, circa 1700-20

The seven-headed serpent, Kaliya, had come to reside in the waters of the river Yamuna near Vrindavan and begun to terrify the locals. Krishna is often depicted dancing on top of Kaliya as he attempts to vanquish him. Here Krishna stands over a subdued Kaliya between two of Kaliya’s wives, each holding a lotus flower between folded hands, as they beg for mercy on their husband’s behalf. The water of the Yamuna appears to have turned brown and murky from the poisons released from Kaliya’s multiple heads.

Other folios from this Bhagavata Purana series are published in Archer 1976, no.35, pp.62-63; Ehnbom 1985, no.106, pp.214-5; Poster et al. 1994, nos.194, 195, pp.240-1; Losty 2010, no.58, pp.136-7 (from the James Ivory collection).

A further folio from this series depicting the Rasa Lila (the Dance of Divine Love) sold recently in these rooms, 24 April 2024, lot 176.