The twelfth-century epic poem, Naishadha Charita, which expands upon the love of Nala and Damayanti first detailed in the Mahabharata¸ is a favored subject of the Pahari painting schools. The text evokes the delicacy of their love and the intensity of their trials, themes best fit for the workshops celebrated for their similarly romantic Gita Govinda series. The series has been noted for its unusual use of a deep open landscape and areal perspective. In the present composition, King Nala is discussing the princess Damayanti with the celestial swan. The swan agrees to fly to the princess to sing Nala’s praises and convince her to become his wife.
Another illustration from the present series can be found at the Brooklyn Museum (acc. no. 81.192.9), depicting Nala charioteering King Rituparna. Another work is published by J. P. Losty, A Mystical Realm of Love: Pahari Paintings from the Eva & Konrad Seitz Collection, London, 2017, p. 302, cat. 84. Further works from this series sold at Christie’s New York 20 March 2008, lot 201, at Christie’s South Kensington, 1 October 2012, lot 250, and most recently at Christie’s New Work 17 March 2021, lot 438 for $27,500.