{
"data": {
"id": 157017,
"accession_number": "1993.166",
"share_license_status": "CC0",
"tombstone": "Kamsa deploys Akrura and Keshi to Braj, from a Bhagavata Purana, c. 1830. Northern India, Pahari kingdoms. Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper; overall: 29.2 x 37.4 cm (11 1/2 x 14 3/4 in.); painting only: 22.9 x 32.4 cm (9 x 12 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Harley C. Lee and Elizabeth K. Lee, 1993.166",
"current_location": "242B Indian Painting",
"title": "Kamsa deploys Akrura and Keshi to Braj, from a Bhagavata Purana",
"creation_date": "c. 1830",
"creation_date_earliest": 1825,
"creation_date_latest": 1835,
"artists_tags": [],
"culture": [
"Northern India, Pahari kingdoms"
],
"technique": "Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper",
"support_materials": [],
"department": "Indian and Southeast Asian Art",
"collection": "Indian Art",
"type": "Painting",
"measurements": "Overall: 29.2 x 37.4 cm (11 1/2 x 14 3/4 in.); Painting only: 22.9 x 32.4 cm (9 x 12 3/4 in.)",
"dimensions": {
"overall": {
"height": 0.292,
"height_inch": 11,
"height_inch_fraction": 0.5,
"width": 0.374,
"width_inch": 14,
"width_inch_fraction": 0.75
},
"painting only": {
"height": 0.229,
"height_inch": 9,
"height_inch_fraction": 0.0,
"width": 0.324,
"width_inch": 12,
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},
"state_of_the_work": null,
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"copyright": null,
"inscriptions": [
{
"inscription": "[[recto, in Nagari]] 36. sabh\u0101 vica sth\u012bta ho sad\u012b deny\u0101 ca\u1e41dura mu\u1e63tika akr\u016bre ke sadi kari ajn\u0101 di\u1e41de ho\u0101",
"inscription_translation": "[Chapter] 36. [Kamsa] called Chanura, Mushtika and Akrura to his court and gave them orders.",
"inscription_remark": null,
"sortorder": 1
},
{
"inscription": "[[verso, in Gurmukhi]] 36. dhi\u0101i. 112. \u2018tade ka\u1e41sa sabh\u0101 bica akarura n\u016b \u0101kha\u0101 t\u016b\u1e41 lai aa\u016b krisna j\u012b n\u016b te kes\u012b n\u016b \u0101kha\u0101 bha\u012b j\u0101ike gokala bica m\u0101ra krisna ji.\u2019",
"inscription_translation": "[Chapter] 36. [Episode] 112. Then Kamsa said to Akrura in the court, \u201cYou bring Krishna [to Mathura]\u201d and said to Keshi, \u201cBrother, go to Gokul and kill Krishna.\u201d",
"inscription_remark": null,
"sortorder": 2
},
{
"inscription": "[[verso, in Sanskrit]] pratiy\u0101te tu devar\u1e63au ka\u1e41sa \u0101bh\u0101\u1e63ya ke\u015binam pre\u1e63ay\u0101m \u0101sa hanyet\u0101\u1e41 bhavat\u0101 r\u0101ma m\u0101dhavau. 22. tato mu\u1e63\u1e6dika c\u0101\u1e47\u016bra \u015bala to\u015balak\u0101dik\u0101n am\u0101ty\u0101n hastip\u0101\u1e41\u015b caiva sam\u0101h\u016by\u0101ha bhoja-r\u0101\u1e6d. 23. bho bho ni\u015bamyat\u0101m etad v\u012bra c\u0101\u1e47\u016bra mu\u1e63\u1e6dikau nanda vraje kil\u0101s\u0101te sut\u0101v \u0101nakadundubhe\u1e25. 24. r\u0101ma-k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47au tato mahya\u1e41 m\u1e5btyu\u1e25 kila nidar\u015bita\u1e25 bhavadbhy\u0101m iha sampr\u0101ptau hanyet\u0101\u1e41 malla-l\u012blay\u0101. 25. ma\u00f1c\u0101\u1e25 kriyant\u0101\u1e41 vividh\u0101 malla ra\u1e45ga-pari\u015brit\u0101\u1e25 paur\u0101 j\u0101napad\u0101\u1e25 sarve pa\u015byantu svaira-sa\u1e41yugam. 26. mah\u0101m\u0101tra tvay\u0101 Bhadra ra\u1e45ga-dv\u0101ry upan\u012byat\u0101m dvipa\u1e25 kuvalay\u0101p\u012b\u1e0do jahi tena mam\u0101hitau 27. \u0101rabhyat\u0101\u1e41 dhanur-y\u0101ga\u015b caturda\u015by\u0101\u1e41 yath\u0101-vidhi vi\u015basantu pa\u015b\u016bn medhy\u0101n bh\u016bta-r\u0101j\u0101ya m\u012b\u1e0dhu\u1e63e jahi tena mam\u0101hitau. 28. ity \u0101j\u00f1\u0101py\u0101rtha-tantra-j\u00f1a \u0101h\u016bya yadu-pu\u1e45gavam g\u1e5bh\u012btv\u0101 p\u0101\u1e47in\u0101 p\u0101\u1e47i\u1e41 tato \u2019kr\u016bram uv\u0101ca ha. 29. bho bho d\u0101na-pate mahya\u1e41 kriyat\u0101\u1e41 maitram \u0101d\u1e5bta\u1e25 n\u0101nyas tvatto hitatamo. vidyate bhoja-v\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47i\u1e63u. 30. atas tv\u0101m \u0101\u015brita\u1e25 saumya k\u0101rya-gaurava-s\u0101dhanam yathendro vi\u1e63\u1e47um \u0101\u015britya sv\u0101rtham adhyagamad vibhu\u1e25 vidyate bhoja-v\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47i\u1e63u. 31. gaccha nanda-vraja\u1e41 tatra sut\u0101v \u0101nakadundubhe\u1e25 \u0101s\u0101te t\u0101v ih\u0101nena rathen\u0101naya m\u0101 ciram. 32. nis\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e6da\u1e25 kila me m\u1e5btyur devair vaiku\u1e47\u1e6dha-sa\u1e41\u015brayai\u1e25 t\u0101v \u0101naya sama\u1e41 gopair nand\u0101dyai\u1e25 s\u0101bhyup\u0101yanai\u1e25. 33. gh\u0101tayi\u1e63ya ih\u0101n\u012btau k\u0101la-kalpena hastin\u0101 yadi muktau tato mallair gh\u0101taye vaidyutopamai\u1e25. 34. tayor nihatayos tapt\u0101n vasudeva-purogam\u0101n tad-bandh\u016bn nihani\u1e63y\u0101mi v\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47i-bhoja-da\u015b\u0101rhak\u0101n. 35. ugrasena\u1e41 ca pitara\u1e41 sthavira\u1e41 r\u0101jya-k\u0101muka\u1e41 tad-bhr\u0101tara\u1e41 devaka\u1e41 ca ye c\u0101nye vidvi\u1e63o mama. 36. tata\u015b cai\u1e63\u0101 mah\u012b mitra bhavitr\u012b na\u1e63\u1e6da-ka\u1e47\u1e6dak\u0101 jar\u0101sandho mama gurur dvivido dayita\u1e25 sakh\u0101. 37. \u015bambaro narako b\u0101\u1e47o mayy eva k\u1e5bta-sauh\u1e5bd\u0101\u1e25 tair aha\u1e41 sura-pak\u1e63\u012by\u0101n hatv\u0101 bhok\u1e63ye mah\u012b\u1e41 n\u1e5bp\u0101n. 38. etaj j\u00f1\u0101tv\u0101naya k\u1e63ipra\u1e41 r\u0101ma-k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47\u0101v ih\u0101rbhakau dhanur-makha-nir\u012bk\u1e63\u0101rtha\u1e41 dra\u1e63\u1e6du\u1e41 yadu-pura-\u015briyam. 39. \u015br\u012b-akr\u016bra uv\u0101ca r\u0101jan man\u012b\u1e63ita\u1e41 sadhryak tava sv\u0101vadya-m\u0101rjanam siddhy-asiddhyo\u1e25 sama\u1e41 kury\u0101d daiva\u1e41 hi phala-s\u0101dhanam. 40. manorath\u0101n karoty uccair jano daiva-hat\u0101n api yujyate har\u1e63a-\u015bok\u0101bhy\u0101\u1e41 tath\u0101py \u0101j\u00f1\u0101\u1e41 karomi te. 41. evam \u0101di\u015bya c\u0101kr\u016bra\u1e41 mantri\u1e47a\u015b ca vi\u1e63\u1e5bjya sa\u1e25 pravive\u015ba g\u1e5bha\u1e41 ka\u1e41sas tath\u0101kr\u016bra\u1e25 svam \u0101layam. 42. iti \u015br\u012b bh\u0101gavate da\u015bama ska\u1e41de p\u016brv\u0101rdhe \u1e63an\u1e0di\u015ba\u1e25 36.",
"inscription_translation": "[Kamsa] called Chanura, Mushtika and Akrura to his court and gave them orders. Verso: [Gurmukhi] Then Kamsa said to Akrura in the court, \u201cYou bring Krishna [to Mathura]\u201d and said to Keshi, \u201cBrother, go to Gokul and kill Krishna.\u201d [Sanskrit] After Narada left, King Kamsa summoned Keshi and ordered him, \u201cGo kill [Bala]Rama and Krishna.\u201d22. The King of the Bhojas next called for his ministers, headed by Mushtika, Chanura, Shala and Toshala, and also for his elephant-keepers. The King addressed them as follows. 23. \u201cMy dear heroic Chanura and Mushtika, please hear this. [Bala]Rama and Krishna, the sons of Anakadundubhi [Vasudeva], are living in Nanda\u2019s cowherd village. 24. It has been predicted that these two boys will be the cause of my death. When they are brought here, kill them on the pretext of engaging them in a wrestling match. 25. Erect a wrestling ring with many surrounding viewing stands and bring all the residents of the city and the outlying districts to see the open competition. 26. You, elephant-keeper, my good man, should position the elephant Kuvalayapida at the entrance to the wrestling arena and have him kill my two enemies. 27. Commence the bow sacrifice on the Chaturdashi day in accordance with the relevant Vedic injunctions. In ritual slaughter offer the appropriate kinds of animals to the magnanimous Lord Shiva.\u201d 28. Having thus commanded his ministers, Kamsa next called for Akrura, the most eminent of the Yadus. Kamsa knew the art of securing personal advantage, and thus he took Akrura\u2019s hand in his own and spoke to him as follows. 29. \u201cMy dear Akrura, most charitable one, please do me a friendly favor out of respect. Among the Bhojas and Vrishnis, there is no one else as kind to us as you. 30. Gentle Akrura, you always carry out your duties soberly, and therefore I am depending on you, just as powerful Indra took shelter of Lord Vishnu to achieve his goals. 31. Please go to Nanda\u2019s village, where the two sons of Anakadundubhi are living, and without delay bring them here on this chariot. 32. The demigods, who are under the protection of Vishnu, have sent these two boys as my death. Bring them here, and also have Nanda and the other cowherd men come with gifts of tribute. 33. After you bring Krishna and Balarama, I will have them killed by my elephant, who is as powerful as death itself. And if by chance they escape from him, I will have them killed by my wrestlers, who are as strong as lightning. 34. When these two have been killed, I will kill Vasudeva and all their lamenting relatives \u2014 the Vrishnis, Bhojas and Dasharhas. 35. I will also kill my old father, Ugrasena, who is greedy for my kingdom, and I will kill his brother Devaka and all my other enemies as well. 36. Then, my friend, this earth will be free of thorns. My elder relative Jarasandha and my dear friend Dvivida are solid well-wishers of mine. 37. As are Sambara, Naraka and Bana. I will use them all to kill off those kings who are allied with the demigods, and then I will rule the earth. 38. Now that you understand my intentions, please go at once and bring Krishna and Balarama to watch the bow sacrifice and see the opulence of the Yadus\u2019 capital.\u201d 39. Akrura said: O King, you have expertly devised a process to free yourself of misfortune. Still, one should be equal in success and failure, since it is certainly destiny that produces the results of one\u2019s work. 40. An ordinary person is determined to act on his desires even when fate prevents their fulfillment. Therefore, he encounters both happiness and distress. Yet even though such is the case, I will execute your order.\u201d41. Having thus instructed Akrura, King Kamsa dismissed his ministers and retired to his quarters, and Akrura returned home. 42. Hence concludes the thirty-sixth chapter of the first half of the tenth book of Bhagavata Purana. 36.",
"inscription_remark": null,
"sortorder": 3
},
{
"inscription": "[[verso, in Nagari]] adhy\u0101[ya] 36 citra 114. 114 citra adhy\u0101ye 36 ka\u1e41\u015ba akr\u016bre ki sadi kari chand\u016br mu\u1e63tika \u0101jn\u0101 di\u1e41de hoe.",
"inscription_translation": "Chapter [number] 36 [and] painting [number] 114. [Nagari] Kamsa called Akrura and gave orders to [him,] Chanura and Mushtika.",
"inscription_remark": null,
"sortorder": 4
}
],
"exhibitions": {
"current": [
{
"id": 707773,
"title": "Art of Pahari India",
"description": "Art of Pahari India. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (August 30, 2026-February 21, 2027).",
"opening_date": "2026-08-30T04:00:00"
}
],
"legacy": []
},
"provenance": [
{
"description": "Harley C. [1901\u20131991] and Elizabeth K. Lee [1908\u20131989], bequest to the Cleveland Museum of Art",
"citations": [],
"footnotes": null,
"date": "?\u20131993",
"sortorder": 1
},
{
"description": "The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH",
"citations": [],
"footnotes": null,
"date": "1993\u2013",
"sortorder": 2
}
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"description": "The king on the low gold throne at center is Kamsa, evil tyrant and uncle of the Hindu god Krishna. He heard that Krishna would one day kill him, so he asked his friend Akrura to bring Krishna to the court for a wrestling match, where he plans to have Krishna murdered. Akrura, in green, stands reverently before him, bowing slightly. Wrestlers sit behind Akrura.
The decorative patterns, crisp lines, pale colors, and interest in conveying spatial depth are stylistic characteristics associated with painting of the mid-1800s. After this time, royal patrons began to prefer photography, printed books, and oil paintings, signaling a new era of visual culture in India.",
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"citations": [
{
"citation": "\u201c1993 Annual Report.\u201d The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 81, no. 6 (July 1994): 143\u2013218.",
"page_number": "Mentioned: p. 158",
"url": "http://www.jstor.org/stable/25161457"
}
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"date_created": "2014-03-26T15:48:17",
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"date_text": "c. 1830",
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"updated_at": "2026-08-30 05:02:12.271000"
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