Illustration to the Bhagavata Purana: Muchukunda Kills the Warrior Kalayavana,

ca. 1775

This folio from a unique version of the sacred Hindu text the Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Tales of the Lord Vishnu) that was produced in Nepal in the 1770s is an illustration from the tenth book, which tells of Krishna, one of the most important avatars of Vishnu. The tales in the Bhagavata Purana are all in some manner associated with Vishnu, who incarnates himself time and again in order to restore cosmic balance. The theme of this painting focuses on Muchukunda, the great sage who helped the gods defeat the demons and was rewarded by a long, deep sleep. On the left, the miscreant king Kalayavana chases Krishna. In the middle scene, Muchukunda, lying in his bed, reduces the king to ashes as punishment for disturbing his rest. The final scene on the right shows Krishna receiving obeisance from Muchukunda.