Observe the painting and read the passage given below.
The pain of gopis is real when Krishna suddenly disappears. With minds engrossed in thoughts of Krishna, the gopis recall and enact his various lilas or feats. Some of them being — the killing of Putana, liberation of Yamala–Arjun after Krishna was tied to a mortar by Yashoda, lifting of Mount Govardhan and rescuing the inhabitants of Braj from the heavy downpour and wrath of Indra, subduing of serpent Kaliya, and the intoxicating call and allure of Krishna’s flute. The gopis take on different roles and emulate his divine sports.
What does the gopi sporting a turban in the painting enact?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Lifting of Mount Govardhan
Option (1) Killing of Putana — Incorrect. The gopi on the extreme left enacts this, bending over the gopi who plays Putana.
Option (2) Subduing of serpent Kaliya — Incorrect. At the bottom right, a gopi dances on a garment that takes the form of Kaliya.
Option (3) Playing the flute — Incorrect. The gopi at the extreme left in the bottom plays Krishna with his flute.
Option (4) Lifting of Mount Govardhan — Correct. The turbaned gopi raises her piled-up odhni as the mountain, and others shelter under it.
NCERT (2026-27): “Re-enacting Krishna’s deeds The artist captures and evokes these sensitive images exquisitely in this folio. … In the adjoining group, a gopi, sporting a turban, lifts her piled up odhni atop in the guise of lifting Mount Govardhan, while others seek protection underneath. To the extreme left in the bottom, a gopi enacts Krishna, who is playing flute, as some gopis dance and sing … In the most magnificent of these cameos to the extreme bottom in the right, a gopi hurls a blue garment edged with gold over the ground, which takes the form of the multiple hooded serpent Kaliya, upon whom she dances like Krishna.”
“Re-enacting Krishna’s deeds, Bhagvata Purana, Guler–Kangra, India, 1780–85, Private Collection” |
