VARMA 2024.263

Damayanti is a central figure in the Vana Parva (Book of the Forest) of the Mahābhārata, remembered as a tragic heroine separated from her beloved Prince Nala through a series of misunderstandings and misfortunes. In this oleograph, based on an 1894 painting by Ravi Varma, she is depicted seated alone in a forest in a moment of despair. At her feet, a coiled serpent prepares to strike, foreshadowing her imminent death. Her pose, with downcast eyes and slumped shoulders, reflects Victorian colonial-era ideals of feminine virtue, fragility and emotional sensitivity.

Red fabric dotted with zardozi embroidery has been applied to the print, adding richness and contrast to the scene. In the original painting, Damayanti wears plain garments; this later addition transforms the image into an object of reverence and devotion.