Balarama Destroys Shishupala’s Army (painting, recto)

In this painting, Balarama, the brother of Krishna, who is the eighth avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, is crowned, mounted on an elephant, and fires arrows at members of Shishupala’s army. Shishupala was the evil cousin of Balarama and Krishna. According to the sacred Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, Krishna would pardon Shishupala of 100 offenses. But when he commits the 101st offense, Krishna, with the guidance of Balarama, declares war on Shishupala, which leads to Shishupala’s demise. The story is also recounted in a poem based on the Mahabharata, the Shishupala Vadha, which focuses on the demise of Shishupala. Pahari Style, Guler School.