Kamsa Sending Akrura to Fetch Krishna to Mathura (painting, recto; text, verso), folio from a Bhagavata Purana series

The painting depicts Kamsa, the blue-skinned Hindu god Krishna’s uncle, requesting Akrura (literally, one who is not cruel) to fetch his nephew, Krishna and his elder half-brother Balarama from Vrindavan. The two young boys are destined to kill Kamsa, and hence, Kamsa asks Akrura to lure them to Mathura so that Kamsa can kill them. Also depicted is the following moment in the narrative, where Akrura leaves on his chariot to meet with Krishna and Balarama. The characters in the representation are identified by captions on the top of the folio, with ‘Akrura’ appearing twice above his figure. Kamsa’s palace is luxurious, with patterned textiles lining the throne and golden objects on the floor. A giant flag flutters over his palace. A royal attendant stands behind Kamsa, holding a fly-whisk. The text on the reverse recounts the verses from the Bhagavata Purana describing this episode. This painting belongs to the 'Dispersed' Bhagavata Purana series, produced in the early 16th century, possibly in Mathura. The series, possibly consisting of 360 such folios, is based on the tenth book of the Bhagavata Purana, which describes the story of Krishna, particularly his childhood and youth. This series was one of South Asia's earliest illustrated Bhagavata Purana manuscripts. Each illustration is also accompanied by the text corresponding to the image on the reverse, written in Sanskrit. Other folios from the same Bhagavata Purana series in the Harvard Art Museum’s collection are objects 1974.124, 1974.125, 1974.126, 1974.127, 1992.283, 1995.66, 1995.67, 1995.68. Caurapancasika-group style. Text on Verso: Bhagavata Purana, Book Ten, Chapter 36, verse 27 - verse 36.