Ghatotkacha and three demons in his company chase Bhagadatta, from Bhishma-parva (volume six) of a Razm-nama (Book of Wars) adapted from the Sanskrit Mahabharata and translated into Persian by Mir Ghiyath al-Din Ali Qazvini, known as Naqib Khan (Pers

The miniature entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in 19321, preserving a rare early example of Persianate illustration adapted from the Mahabharata within Mughal manuscript culture. Its attribution to Fazl and creation in 1616 in the Mughal Empire underscore its significance as a cross-cultural visual narrative, influencing later interpretations of the epic in manuscript traditions. The work is documented in scholarly references on Persian miniature painting and Mughal artistic production.

The 1616 painting, part of a Razm‑nama series, illustrates a dramatic episode from the Bhishma‑parva of the Mahabharata. In the scene, the demon‑born hero Ghatotkacha and three accompanying demons pursue the warrior Bhagadatta, whose mount is an elephant. The work is attributed to the Persian court painter Fazl and is currently in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

The composition visualizes a moment of mythic combat, emphasizing the supernatural prowess of Ghatotkacha, a son of the wind god, as he leads a chaotic chase. The inclusion of demons underscores the epic’s themes of divine intervention and the tumult of war, while Bhagadatta’s desperate flight on an elephant highlights his status as a formidable but vulnerable opponent.

Executed in vivid pigments, the painting employs bright reds, yellows, and gold to accentuate armor and textiles. Figures are rendered in dynamic poses, suggesting rapid movement, and the landscape features stylized green hills, a blue sky, and pink clouds. Persian calligraphic bands of text run along the top and right edge, integrating narrative description with the visual action.