'Abhaya' King Shibi and the Scales of Dharma, Vana Parva — Indian Epics Prints

Provenance

The story of King Shibi appears in the Mahabharata's Vana Parva, where the righteous king is tested by the gods Agni and Indra, disguised as a dove and a hawk. When the dove seeks refuge in his lap, Shibi refuses to surrender it, even when the hawk demands its rightful prey. Instead, he offers his own flesh as an equal substitute. When no amount proves sufficient, Shibi offers himself entirely, whereupon the gods reveal their true forms and proclaim him the embodiment of dharma. The tale remains one of India's most enduring illustrations of self-sacrifice, compassion, and the sacred duty to protect those who seek refuge.

This print is inspired by the Mughal court miniature tradition, particularly the royal narrative paintings developed during Akbar's Razmnama project. A restrained palette of cream, crimson, gold, and cobalt, together with finely rendered architectural details and floral motifs, reflects the elegance of late Mughal work while emphasizing the moral gravity of the scene.

The composition centres on three symbolic elements: King Shibi, the balance scale, and the hawk. Together they transform an abstract ideal of dharma into a powerful visual narrative, making this print both a celebration of Indian artistic heritage and a timeless reminder of courage, generosity, and moral responsibility.