Ghatotkacha and three demons in his company chase Bhagadatta - Fazl

A 17th-century Mughal miniature depicting a battle scene from the Mahabharata, featuring ornate elephants and warriors in a dynamic composition.

This manuscript leaf originates from a Razm-nama, a Persian translation of the Sanskrit Mahabharata commissioned during the Mughal period. The scene depicts a chaotic battle sequence from the Bhishma-parva, where the warrior Ghatotkacha and his demonic allies pursue the king Bhagadatta. The composition follows the conventions of Mughal court painting, balancing narrative action with decorative elements.

The artist, Fazl, employs a high-angle perspective to organise the figures across the page. The foreground features elephants adorned in ornate caparisons, carrying riders engaged in combat. The figures of the demons are rendered with distinct red skin tones, contrasting against the muted earth colours of the rocky terrain. The background includes stylised crags and trees, typical of the period's aesthetic, which prioritises clarity of form over atmospheric depth.

Central to the work is a block of Persian nasta'liq script, which provides the textual context for the visual narrative. The integration of text and image is a hallmark of the Mughal atelier, where calligraphers and painters collaborated to produce luxury volumes for the imperial library. The use of gold leaf and mineral pigments reflects the high status of the commission. The work demonstrates the synthesis of Persian artistic traditions with indigenous Indian styles, a process encouraged by the Mughal emperors to document epic literature. This specific leaf captures the kinetic energy of the conflict, with the figures arranged in a rhythmic, overlapping pattern that guides the viewer through the sequence of the chase.