An Illustration to the Bhagavata Purana: Satrajit and Prasena with the Symantaka Mani

The illustration depicts the events in the epic relating to the Symantakamani, a fabulous jewel that originally belonged to the Sun God. It was believed that possession of this jewel protected the wearer from any calamity and bestowed fabulous wealth upon the people of the land.

According to the story, the gem was presented by the Sun God to Satrajit, a Yadava nobleman who was his ardent worshipper and a kinsman of Krishna. When Satrajit returned to Dwarka he was mistaken for the Sun God because of the dazzling jewel now in his possession. Krishna suggested that Satrajit leave the precious gem for safekeeping with Ugrasena the leader of the   Yadavas. However Satrajit did not comply and instead gave the gem to his brother Prasena who wore it while on a hunt and was killed by a bear. Eventually Krishna retrieved the priceless gem from the bear.

An elaborate palace complex with multiple turrets provides the setting for the narrative. At left are Satrajit and Prasena conferring with Krishna and at right we see Satrajit handing the jewel to his brother who exits the scene on horseback at lower right en route to his fateful hunt.

For two other illustrations from this series, featuring very similar architectural settings see Sotheby's New York, September 19 2008, lots 215 and 216. Related leaves are in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum; see Maggs Bros. Ltd., Bulletin No. 7, no.174, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; see Pratapaditya Pal, Art of Nepal, Los Angeles, 1985, p.228; and the Binney Collection, see W. G. Archer, Rajput Miniatures from the Collection of Edwin Binney 3rd, Portland, 1969, p. 64.