Posted on: 5 September 2012

Yudishthira wrestling with Karna. Page from an illustrated manuscript of the Razmnama. Originally in manuscript dated 1007H (1598). Both men, stripped to the waist and standing, embrace one another in this traditional form of wrestling. Two chariots stand on either side while attendents await in the foreground. A hilly landscape with single tree compose the background. No text. Painted in opaque watercolour and ink on paper.

Yudishthira, the eldest of the five Pandava brothers, and Karna, his half brother, wrestle in the traditional way, stripped to the waist and standing. This artist has created an archaic mood in his picture by including only bows and arrows and no 'modern' armour.

By the 1590s Akbar had assembled a large atelier of artists who illustrated the numerous historical, epic and poetical texts written and translated at the emperor's behest. The Razmnameh is the Persian abridged translation of the Mahabharata. The pale green ground and painterly treatment of foliage charaterise the numerous dispersed illustrations of the Razmnameh.

Artist: Makr
Date: ca.1598
Style: Mughal

© Trustees of the British Museum


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how do we recognise it is one this or that? anything written ? or each character has a unique identity?

Interestingly -- the various folios of Razanama posted here by RBSI show distinctive styles, some are clearly Mughal (more appropriately, Iranian interpretation of Mughal) -- however some (say the one posted which has lord Krishna entering Dwaraka) -- is clearly all Indian style (rajasthani/Pahari) It appears to be a collaborative effort, with Persian painters collaborating with Indian ones.

Different artists would have drawn different folios?

You right SS. Each of the these folios are attributed to different artists...Hindus and Muslims.

Sad, but somewhat inevitable that this experiment did not last more than half to one generation. :-( Anyway what is, is.

I really doubt that the two men in the centre of the painting are wrestling. To me they simply appear to be embracing each other. the looks on the faces of the onlookers also doesn't hint at any conflict.

Just add to the description of the paintings . . . . Mahabharata written by Vyasa . . . is also known as Jayasamhita, Satasahasri and Samhita . . . is ten times the length of the Iliad and Odyssey combined, about four times the length of Ramayana . . . contains about 1,17,000 hymns . . . Abul Faizi Persian poet and brother of Abul Fazal translated it into Persian in the name of ‘Razam Namah’