India | 1907
Region / Date
Indian Subcontinent
Chromolithograph after Raja Ravi Varma, 1907
Key Features
This evocative chromolithograph portrays a pivotal moment from the Mahābhārata - the meeting of King Śantanu with the fisher maiden Matsyagandhā, later known as Satyavatī. Standing beside the riverbank where she lives with her family, Satyavatī appears modest and contemplative as the king approaches her father to ask for her hand in marriage. The composition captures the delicate intersection of royal destiny and humble origins that would ultimately shape the future of the Kuru dynasty.
Śantanu, dressed in regal attire, gestures outward with dignified assurance as he speaks to the fisherman chief. His posture conveys both admiration and determination, reflecting the deep affection he feels for the young woman. Despite the difference in their social stations, the king’s request demonstrates the transformative power of love and fate in the epic narrative.
Satyavatī stands quietly near the hut, her expression composed yet thoughtful. Known earlier as Matsyagandhā - “she whose scent was of fish” - she lived as the daughter of a fisherman and ferried travelers across the river. Through divine blessing she later came to possess a celestial fragrance and the name Satyavatī, meaning “the truthful one.” Her eventual marriage to Śantanu would change the course of the Mahābhārata, as she would become the matriarch of the Kuru lineage and grandmother of both the Pāṇḍavas and Kauravas.
The surrounding elements - fishing baskets, village dwellings, and domestic life by the water - reinforce the contrast between the simplicity of Satyavatī’s world and the royal stature of the king. Ravi Varma skillfully blends realism with mythological storytelling, transforming this encounter into a deeply human moment within a grand epic tradition.
Produced as a chromolithograph by the Ravi Varma Press, the image reflects the period when mythological scenes were widely reproduced for public devotion and cultural education. These prints allowed epic narratives to reach ordinary households, preserving the emotional depth and visual drama of India’s classical stories.
This artwork captures the quiet beginning of a story that would ultimately shape one of the greatest epics ever told.
Museum-Grade Poster Details
Size: 18 × 24 inches
Paper: 350 GSM archival matte paper
Print Quality: High-fidelity reproduction preserving original tonal depth and color balance
Finish: Non-glare, museum-grade matte
Ideal For: Mahabharata collectors, literature enthusiasts, heritage art collectors, living spaces
Why You’ll Love It
This artwork beautifully captures the meeting of destiny and humility. It tells the origin story of one of the most important figures in the Mahābhārata while preserving the emotional nuance and realism that make Ravi Varma’s works so timeless.
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Bring home this historic moment from the Mahābhārata - where love, fate, and royal lineage converge.
Available in 18 × 24 inches, with framed and unframed options, exclusively at The Soma Store.
