The Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Stories of the Lord) is traditionally ascribed to the legendary poet-sage Vyasa in the 8th-10th century CE. It stresses the path of devotion (bhakti) to Krishna, the eighth incarnation or avatar of Vishnu, the Hindu God of Preservation.
This folio [#32] illustrates the presentation of the great fish to the Demon King Shambara (or Samvara). Shambara had abducted Pradyumna, the infant son of Krishna and Rukmini, soon after his birth in Dvaraka and thrown him in the ocean. Pradyumna, who was an avatar of Kamadeva, the Hindu god of desire, was swallowed by an enormous fish. It was later caught by a fisherman and sold to Shambara’s kitchen. When the fish was cut open, one of Shambara’s wives Mayavati (or Mayadevi), who was an incarnation of Rati, the wife of Kamadeva, recognized the beautiful child as her divine spouse and raised him without Shambara’s knowledge (Bhagavata Purana 10:55:1-8). Here, in continuous narration starting at the bottom, the great fish is brought to the palace gate and then presented to Shambara, who sends it to the cook in the top center. See also M.83.105.4.
This painting, and its series mates M.72.3.1 and AC1999.127.2, are from a dispersed Bhagavata Purana of more than 100 illustrations. The series is distinctive for its aerial perspective of temples and palaces in the Kathmandu Valley.
Additional folios from this series are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (1975.409.2, 1985.398.10, 2019.64, 2019.65).
