The Beginnings of Buddhist Art and Other Essays in Indian and Central-Asian Archaeology c11.s1.82

c11.s1.82

15. (L., 156). The bas-relief is divided into two parts by a tree, and the different orientation of the characters emphasizes this separation. On the right, at Râjagriha, the monk Rudrâyana (still wrongly represented by Wilsen as a Buddha) learns from merchants, natives of his country, that his son Çikhandin is conducting himself badly on the throne, and he promises to go and put things in order. On the left, at Roruka, King Çikhandin is warned by his evil ministers that there is a rumour of his father's early return, and he forms with them a plot to assassinate him. In the background is to be seen already, in her private palace, the Queen Mother, who in this portion of the story will play a very important part.