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An illustration of the first verse of the second song of the Sanskrit devotional poem Gita Govinda (‘Song of the Cowherd’) by Jayadeva.

दूसरागीतम् ॥
श्रितकमलाकुचमण्डलधृतकुण्डलये ॥ कलितललितवनमाल
जयजयदेवहरे ॥१॥

‘Second Song:
You rest on the circle of Shri’s breast, wearing your earrings,
And fondling forest garlands. Triumph, God of Triumph, Hari! 1’

Vishnu and Lakshmi enthroned on a lakeside terrace.

Rajput artists often depicted their patrons in the physical presence of gods, as humble worshippers or courtiers of the Divine. The Maharajah and his wife stand before Vishnu, who sits enthroned as he embraces his consort Lakshmi (‘Sri’). True to the song lyrics, he wears a prominent kundala (hoop) earring and a long floral garland. To the left, female musicians accompany a dancing girl who leaps energetically in the air. A group of figures sit on the right including two princes and three purple-robed saints: Tulsidas, Namdev, and the blind Surdas.

For further information on this series of paintings see RCIN 1005114.

Translation adapted from Barbara Stoller Miller, Jayadeva’s Gitagovinda (1978).