The Heroine Whose Desires are Apparent, Page from a Rasikapriya Series

Title

The Heroine Whose Desires are Apparent, Page from a Rasikapriya Series

Date

ca. 1660–1690

Geography

Place made: Rajasthan, India

Medium

Opaque watercolor and gold on paper

Classification

Painting

Dimensions

sheet: 9 1/2 x 6 15/16 in. (24.1 x 17.6 cm) image: 9 x 6 3/8 in. (22.9 x 16.2 cm)

Inscriptions

V. Desai explains that the Braj text, in Devanagari script, in the panel at the top, relates to the title of the Rasikapriya verse (ch. 3, v. 38): The Madhya Padurbhuta type of nayika whose sensuous desires have become apparent. Today I happen to see one such gopi [who is so unique for her features that] she does not look like a daughter of an ahir [i.e. a cow-herd]. Her bodily charm is such that it is not found in others, and having seen her once you feel like seeing her always. With one of her winks [full of amorous glances], the whole of the charm of the three worlds could be showered. Who could be the husband of such a beauty, the moon [Kalanidhi] or Kama, the god of love, or Krishna? (Trans. S. P. Tewari, with V. N. Desai)

Credit Line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Manheim

Accession Number

69.125.3