The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 29, 2023

The Sentiment of Peace: Sama Rasa, from a Rasikapriya

1634

Central India, Madhya Pradesh, Malwa

Gum tempera and gold on paper

Page: 19.7 x 16.2 cm (7 3/4 x 6 3/8 in.)

Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.124

Location

not on view

Fun Fact

A peacock perches on the terrace of the heroine, accentuating her loneliness.

Description

A lovesick heroine sits in a chamber with her head turned in disregard. A confidante (sakhi) explains her condition to Krishna and requests that he meet her. The sakhi raises her finger in concern and points toward the heroine with her other hand. Krishna, wearing Mughal turban and garments, gestures in agreement. The color palette is simple, and the composition is flat—hallmarks of early Malwa painting.

Inscriptions

Inscription

tha samarasa lakshana. savate hoi udāsa manu vasai eka hiṃ ṭhorā. tāhī soṃ samarasu kahai kesava kavi siramoura. radhikā kauṃ samarasu. dekheṃ nahiṃ araviṃdani tyoṃ vira vaṃda kī ānada kaṃda nikaī. kanana kamakatha karai kama na take tridhāma ki suṃdaritaī. dekhi gaī bhavateṃ tumakauṃ taba teṃ kachū vāhi na dekhyo suhaī. chādegī dehu ju dekheṃ binā aho dehu na kānha kahūṃ kai dikhaī. 21.

Inscription Translation

Translation: Marks of Sama Rasa, the sentiment of peace, arise when the mind turns inwards. Radha’s Sama Rasa [Her companion (sakhi) speaks to the Nayaka]: “O Krishna! Ever since she has seen you, she does not want to see anything else. She does not look at a lotus, nor does she want to look at the beautiful moon. Even though by nature she is romantic, she does not want to listen to love stories. The beauty of the three worlds does not touch her. If she does not see you she will die. Please come and meet her. 21.

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2018.124