id: 154754 accession number: 1989.334 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1989.334 updated: 2024-03-26 02:00:06.273000 Sakhi Persuades Radha to Meet Krishna, from a Gita Govinda (Song of the Cowherd) of Jayadeva, c. 1820–25. Attributed to Purkhu (Indian, 1750–1860). Gum tempera and gold on paper; overall: 24.1 x 32.1 cm (9 1/2 x 12 5/8 in.); with borders: 25.4 x 30.3 cm (10 x 11 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Mrs. Severance A. Millikin 1989.334 title: Sakhi Persuades Radha to Meet Krishna, from a Gita Govinda (Song of the Cowherd) of Jayadeva title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: c. 1820–25 creation date earliest: 1815 creation date latest: 1830 current location: creditline: Bequest of Mrs. Severance A. Millikin copyright: --- culture: Northern India, Himachal Pradesh, Pahari Kingdom of Kangra technique: gum tempera and gold on paper department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art collection: Indian Art type: Painting find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS * Purkhu (Indian, 1750–1860) - artist Indian painter, active ca. 1790-1820 --- measurements: Overall: 24.1 x 32.1 cm (9 1/2 x 12 5/8 in.); with borders: 25.4 x 30.3 cm (10 x 11 15/16 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: inscription: translation: "Yea Lady! in the self-same spot he waits Where with thy kiss thou taught'st him utmost love, And drew him, as none else draws, with thy look; And all day long, and all night long, his cry Is 'Radha, Radha' like a spell said o'er And in his heart there lives no wish nor hope Save only this, to slake his spirit's thirst For Radha's love with Radha's lips; and find Peace on the immortal beauty of thy breast. (What follows is the Music Gurjjari and the Mode Ekatali.) Mistress, sweet and bright and holy! Meet him in that place; Change his cheerless melancholy Into joy and grace; If thou hast forgiven, vex not: If thou lovest, go, Watching ever by the river, Krishna listens low: Listens low, and on his reed there Softly sounds thy name, Making even mute things plead there For his hope: 'tis shame That, while winds are welcome to him, If from thee they blow, Mournful ever by the river Krishna waits thee so! When a bird's wing stirs the roses, When a leaf falls dead, Twenty times he recomposes The flower-seat he has spread: Twenty-times, with anxious glances Seeking thee in vain, Sighing ever by the river, Krishna droops again. Loosen from thy foot the bangle, Lest its golden bell, With a tiny tattling jangle, Any false tale tell: If though fearest the moonlight Will thy glad face know, Draw those dark braids lower, Lady! But to Krishna go. Swift and still as lightning's splendour Let thy beauty come. Sudden, gracious, dazzling, tender, To his arms---its home. Swift as Indra's yellow lightning, Shining through the night, Glide to Krishna's lonely bosom, Take him love and light. Grant, at last, love's utmost measure, Giving the whole: Keep back nothing of the treasure Of thy priceless soul: Hold with both hands out unto him Thy chalice, let him drain The nectar of its dearest draught, Till not a wish remain. Only go---the stars are setting, And thy Krishna grieves; Doubt and anger quite forgetting, Hasten through the leaves: Wherefore didst thou lead him heav'nward But for this thing's sake? Comfort him with pity, Radha! Or his heart must break. But while Jayadeva writes This rare tale of deep delights--- Jayadev, whose heart is given Unto Jari, Lord in Heaven--- See that ye too, as ye read, With a glad and humble heed, Bend your brows before His face, That he may have bliss and grace." translation: remark: inscription: poorva yatra sama tvaya rati patera sadita siddhayas tasminneva nikunja manmatha mahatirthe punar madhava. dhyayas tvam nisha japanna pita vaivalapa mantra vali. bhuyas tvat kucha kumbha nirbhara parirambhamta vanchati(1). gurjari rage. rati sukha sare gatambhisare madana manohara venam. na kuru nitambini gamana vilambanam anusara ta hridayesham (1). dhira samire yamuna tire vasati vane vanamali. gopi pina payodhara mardana chanchal kara yuga sali. nam sametam krita sanketam vadaya tem duveyum. bahumanu te tanu te tanu sangata pavana chalitamapi re end (2). patati patatre vicalati patre shankita-bhavad-upayanam rachayati shayanam sachakita-nayanam pashyati tava panthanam (3). mukharam adhira tyaja manjiram ripum iva keli sulolam chala sakhi kunja satimira-punja shilaya nila nicholam (4). urasi murarer upahita-hare ghana iva tarala balake taòid iva péte rati viparete rajasi sukata-vipake (5). vigalita-vasanam parihata-rasana ghauaya jaghanam apidhanam kisalaya-shayane pankaja-nayane nidhim iva harna-nidhanam (6). harir abhimane rajanir idanem iyam api yati viramam kuru mama vachana satvara-racana puraya madhuripu-kamam (7). shri-jayadeve kata-hari-seve bhaati paramaramaeyam pramuditahadaya harim atisadaya namata sukata kamaneyam (8) translation: remark: inscription: 19 translation: remark: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: The Severance and Greta Millikin Collection opening date: 1990-07-05T04:00:00 The Severance and Greta Millikin Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (July 5-September 2, 1990). title: Life and Exploits of Krishna in Indian Paintings (Indian art rotation) opening date: 2021-09-01T04:00:00 Life and Exploits of Krishna in Indian Paintings (Indian art rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 1, 2021-February 6, 2022). --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS * {'description': 'Indian Miniature Rotation (Gallery 115). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (August 13, 2003-February 18, 2004).', 'opening_date': '2003-08-13T00:00:00'} * {'description': 'Indian Miniature Rotation (Gallery 115). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (August 18, 2004-May 23, 2005).', 'opening_date': '2004-08-18T00:00:00'} * {'description': 'ArtLens Exhibition. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (June 5-November 30, 2018).', 'opening_date': '2018-06-05T00:00:00'} --- PROVENANCE Raja of Lambagraon date: footnotes: citations: (Mr. B. R. Sharma, New Delhi, India, sold to Severance and Greta Millikin) date: footnotes: citations: Severance A. [1895–1985] and Greta [Marguerite Steckerl] Millikin [1903–1989], Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art date: ?–1989 footnotes: citations: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH date: 1989– footnotes: citations: --- fun fact: digital description: wall description: --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS Catalogue of the Severance and Greta Millikin Collection. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1990. page number: cat. no. 156 url: --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1989.334/1989.334_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1989.334/1989.334_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1989.334/1989.334_full.tif