Krishna with the five Pandavas

The ancient Hindu epic the Mahabharata tells the story of warring

cousins within a family, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, whose

dispute culminated in the Kurukshetra War. The Pandavas were five brothers who were known for their virtue, strength, diplomacy and devotion to Krishna, who frequently appears in the Mahabharata as counsel to the brothers. This painting shows Krishna consulting with the brothers during a battle. As is typical of Kangra painting, this painting provides a sequential narrative of Krishna’s meeting with the brothers: to the right he embraces them in greeting, and then to the left is shown in consultation with them. The person seated next to Krishna might be Sanjaya, indicating that this scene is from the Udyoga Priva, the Book of the Effort, which details the brothers’ unsuccessful attempts to achieve peace with the Kauravas before the War.The painting's diagonal lines, simple forms, and consistent use of colours lead our eye around the scene, rendering the scene both dynamic and readable.

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