id: 154754
accession number: 1989.334
share license status: CC0
url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1989.334
updated: 2023-03-14 12:01:38.410000
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:
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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:
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CREATORS
* Purkhu (Indian, 1750–1860) - artist
Indian painter, active ca. 1790-1820
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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:
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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).
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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS
* Indian Miniature Rotation (Gallery 115). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (August 13, 2003-February 18, 2004).
* Indian Miniature Rotation (Gallery 115). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (August 18, 2004-May 23, 2005).
* ArtLens Exhibition. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (June 5-November 30, 2018).
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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:
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fun fact:
According to the text, Krishna softly plays his flute and weaves his beloved Radha's name into the melody.
digital description:
wall description:
While all the cowherd girls were in love with Krishna, he had a favorite according to texts of the 1200s and later. Her name was Radha, and she and Krishna would meet for secret trysts in the forest, facilitated by her sakhi, or confidante.
Krishna is shown twice in this painting. At the right he is in the process of making a bed of leaves for their upcoming encounter, and in the middle, he spies on Radha, wearing orange and gold. The sakhi is encouraging Radha to go and meet Krishna, since he is pining for her.
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RELATED WORKS
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CITATIONS
Catalogue of the Severance and Greta Millikin Collection. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1990.
page number: cat. no. 156
url:
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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