Observe the image, read the passage given below and answer the following questions:

This painting is on a theme from Harivamsa. Badauni, a scholar noble in the court of Akbar, was assigned the job of translating this volume on Lord Krishna into Persian. Hari or Lord Krishna lifted the mountain, Govardhan, with all creatures dwelling therein with the intention to protect them — the villagers and their livestock, who were his followers, from torrential rain sent by another powerful God Indra. Hari uses the mountain like a huge umbrella, under which the entire village takes refuge.

What was the motivation behind Lord Krishna lifting the mountain, Govardhan?

1) To show his strength and might against Kansa, his maternal uncle
2) To impress Radha and her family
3) To protect the villagers and their livestock from torrential rain sent by Indra
4) To establish his dominance over other gods

3

Answer: To protect the villagers and their livestock from torrential rain sent by Indra
Lord Krishna lifted the mountain with the intention of protecting the villagers and their livestock from the rain sent by the powerful god Indra.

Krishna Lifts Mount Govardhan from a dispersed Harivamsa Purana is attributed to Miskin (1585–90). It is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA. Harivamsa Purana is one of the many Sanskrit manuscripts, which were translated into Persian by the Mughals. This painting is on a theme from Harivamsa. Badauni, a scholar noble in the court of Akbar, was assigned the job of translating this volume on Lord Krishna into Persian. It is interesting to note that Badauni was famous for his orthodox religious views, much unlike Abul Fazl, another famous scholar chronicler in Akbar’s court. Hari or Lord Krishna lifted the mountain, Govardhan, with all creatures dwelling therein with the intention to protect them — the villagers and their livestock, who were his followers, from torrential rain sent by another powerful God Indra. Hari uses the mountain like a huge umbrella, under which the entire village takes refuge.