The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 19, 2025

Queen Kaikeyi reminds King Dasharatha about the sacrifices of King Bali and King Shivi, folio 39 from the Ayodhya Kanda (Book of Ayodhya) of a Ramayana (Rama's Journey)

c. 1710

Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Rajput Kingdom of Mewar, Court of Amar Singh II

(reigned 1698–1710)
gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Overall: 20 x 38.2 cm (7 7/8 x 15 1/16 in.)
Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.142
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

The scenes outside the room illustrate and expand further on what the queen, at left, is saying.

Description

A large portion of this composition is dominated by the episode of Vishnu’s manifestation as Trivikrama in Raja Bali’s sacrifice. Vishnu stands monumentally with his one foot on the ground and the other foot reaching to heaven where Brahma washes Vishnu’s foot with Ganges water in devotion. Raja Bali is shown giving the sacrifice to Vamana, the brahmin incarnation of Vishnu.
  • ?–2008
    Edward Wilkinson, Pasadena, CA
    2008–2018
    Catherine Glynn Benkaim and Ralph Benkaim Collection
    2018–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Imagining Rama’s Journey. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (March 10-September 17, 2023).
  • {{cite web|title=Queen Kaikeyi reminds King Dasharatha about the sacrifices of King Bali and King Shivi, folio 39 from the Ayodhya Kanda (Book of Ayodhya) of a Ramayana (Rama's Journey)|url=false|author=|year=c. 1710|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2018.142