The forty wives and their secret paramours being punished by stoning to death, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Twenty-third Night

The narrative depicts the discovery of a secret liaison in which the Raja’s wives sheltered young men disguised as women. Upon revelation, both the concealed men and their hostesses are executed by stoning, fulfilling a prophecy inscribed on a mysterious skull. The story functions as a moral warning against deceit and illicit desire, emphasizing the swift and brutal retribution meted out by the court.

The artist employs a densely packed arrangement of figures that resemble stylized dolls, each rendered with individual facial features despite the violent context. Bright pigments of red and blue punctuate the composition, drawing attention to the bloodied violence amid the pale flesh tones. The use of linear perspective places the stone‑throwing guards at the edges, creating a sense of movement toward the central mass of bodies.

Created for the Mughal court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605), the work reflects the empire’s patronage of illustrated manuscripts that combined Persian literary traditions with local storytelling. The Tuti‑nama, a compilation of moralizing parrot tales, served both entertainment and didactic purposes within the imperial household, reinforcing ethical norms through vivid visual allegories.

As a visual record of Mughal narrative art, the painting exemplifies how courtly manuscripts conveyed complex moral lessons through dramatic imagery. Its vivid portrayal of punishment and the meticulous attention to each individual’s visage have informed later studies of Mughal iconography, illustrating the period’s capacity for both elaborate storytelling and stark moral instruction.