Page from the Kathasaritagara Manuscript: Episodes from the Story of the False Ascetic and the Grain Merchant's Daughter (Primary Title)
Page from the Kathasaritagara Manuscript: Episodes from the Story of the False Ascetic (Alternate Title)
Unknown (Artist)
This painting is from a 16th-century Persian translation of the Kathasaritsagara (Ocean of the River of Stories), a collection of Indian tales originally compiled in Sanskrit around the 11th century. The painting’s simplified Mughal style suggests that it probably was not produced through direct imperial patronage but commissioned by a Mughal nobleman or courtier who wished to imitate the aesthetic tastes of the imperial family.
The picture illustrates several episodes from the story of an evil ascetic, or holy man, who attempted to seduce a beautiful young woman. The ascetic tricked the maiden’s wealthy father into setting her adrift on the Ganges River in a basket. Soon, however, a handsome prince rescued her, and the two wed. The couple is depicted on the canopied boat in the painting’s foreground. The prince also placed a ferocious monkey in the basket and set it afloat again. Unaware of the switch, the ascetic’s disciples retrieved the basket and delivered it to him. They appear on the riverbank, apprehensive about entering the monastery as they hear the terrible sounds from within of the monkey attacking their master.
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