The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of August 13, 2022

Krishna and the Cowherds Dive into the River, from a Rasikapriya

c. 1640

Central India, Madhya Pradesh, Malwa

Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper

Page: 20.6 x 17.8 cm (8 1/8 x 7 in.)

Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.126

Location

not on view

Fun Fact

The boys are shown in subtly different sizes to convey their movement through space.

Description

Krishna and seven cowherds (gopas) playfully jump into a river, depicted as a wavy tricolor band that divides the composition diagonally in half. Krishna and four others are already airborne, while three get ready to jump. Radha and her friends witness this feat in amusement from a marble platform. The milkmaids are fully dressed, while Krishna and the cowherds are wearing kaupina loincloths.

Inscriptions

Inscription

atha nyaute kau milnu.2. nyauti kai bulaī hutī betī vṛṣabhānajū kī, jeṃvai kau jasodā rānī ānī hai siṃgārikai. bhojanu kai ūpara bhavana gāi pāna khāti dekhive kau ke sauda sa ānadu vicārikai. dekhata dekhata hari bhavate koṃ bhāgi dekhi. dauri gahī vyalu aisī veṃnī daru daru darikai. bheṃti bhari anka mana bhāyau kari chaṃdi muhu kesari sam mādi laī besari utārike. 1000000000

Inscription Translation

Description of the invitation. Today Yashoda invited Vrishabhanu’s daughter to her home for a meal. After food, Radha was chewing betel and feeling happy. She climbed the steps to the inside of the house. Suddenly, she came upon Krishna, and, seeing him, she started running away. Krishna fearlessly held her braid and then embraced her fondly and left her only after he had removed her nose ring and applied saffron on her face. [Number] ‘1000000000’

Inscription Remark

Verso: Text. No relation of the verse with the divers Written by Keshavdasa Ath Nyote ko Milnu Nyote ki Bulaye huti Beti Vrishbhanu ju ki Jaivanke ko Yasoda Rani Aati Hai Shingari ke Bhojanu ke Upar Bhawan Gayi Paan Khati Dekhi Ve Ko Kesavdas Aan Duvichare Ke Dekhat Dekhat Hari Bhanvate kon Bhangi Dekhi Dori Gahi Veni Thalu Aisi Veni Daru darunda Ri Ke Bhenti Bhari Ank Man Bhavo Kari Chhandi Mukh Ke Sarsison Madil a vesari utarike 1000000000

Provenance
1978–2018
Catherine Glynn Benkaim and Barbara Timmer, Beverly Hills, CA, partial sale and gift to the Cleveland Museum of Art
2018–
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Exhibition history

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).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2018.126