AM E074167

Bharatayuddha? scene with two Pamurtian

The cloth is crowded with scenes, starting top left: 1. Arjuna and Supraba leave Indra and Daniswara, with Wraspati (Drona) behind. 2. A & S walk. 3. S snuggles up to Detia Kwaca in a pavilion while A is on top of the gate. 4. A & S flee D. K's wrath. Next row 5. Man identified as Dharma Wangsa with bow. Relevance obscure, possibly showing rest of Pandawas continue while A sojurns in haven. 6. A & S get together at last! 7. A, armed follows S, to battle. 8. (mid right) D.K. in chariot throws weapon which A avoids (under his arm). A shoots pasupati (his special arrow) D.K. dies not shown. 9. (third scene down on the left edge.) A & S talk with priest plus his servant. 10. Big bottom centre. Two equal pemurtian figures of the right confront each other while Twalen and Morda register alarm. 11. (just by chariot wheels of 8) Priest and Krishna look at confrontation. These three scenes present difficulty. There are versions in Bali where Krisna comes to heaven to bring A back. Most informants agreed that the big centre scene is an expression of opposition between Krisna and A (on right) but they are balanced and no one wins. The priest is said to be K's father, name not known. This is O.K. but what is K doing watching himself confronting A ????? Anything is possible for Gods but this is too much, even in Bali. I have no solution at the moment, the story is obviously a Balinese variant which I have not heard in full. 12. (bottom left) K & A see S with condong off as she returns to heaven. 13. (bottom right) A with Twalen and Morda go with K and servant back to the real world, without heavenly nymphs alas! This wreck of a once fine painting raises difficulties that will require further work [ref LC]