Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v2.c8.s21.32

v2.c8.s21.32

According to the *Jātaka*, the *Yaksha* general, Pūrṇaka, carried Vidhura on his Sindh horse; the minister immediately before his departure having observed, ‘I have seized the tail of thy steed, proceed, O youth, as thou wilt.’ The presence of the horse to the left of the last scene makes the story in the fresco tally with the *Jātaka* version; but lower down we see a royal procession in which Vidhurapaṇḍita is riding in state on an elephant. On his right is Pūrṇaka on his magical horse, and in front a large retinue of horsemen, infantry, and bandsmen. The latter scene may represent only an artist's diversion from the original story, or possibly a later version of Vidhurapaṇḍita's journey to the *Nāga* world, for the king Dhanañjaya might not have been satisfied to send his esteemed minister alone, and might have sent a strong escort for the protection of his life against the impending outrage of the *Nāgas*.