The Unfinished Painting

A King’s Request

Once upon a time, there was a king who was a great patron of art. He had a highly gifted artist in his court.

“Can you draw a very special picture for me? It should show the Divine child, Krishna, face to face with the cruel Kamsa. I wish to see the very symbol of innocence and bliss side by side with the symbol of crookedness and cruelty,” one day the king told the artist.

The idea inspired the artist as well. “My lord, I will do all I can to satisfy you, but you must allow me enough time to complete the work,” he replied.

“Take as much time as necessary, but draw a masterpiece,” was the king’s instruction.

The Search for Krishna

The artist decided to draw Krishna first. “There are many beautiful boys in this town; I must find the most charming one to serve as my model,” he thought.

The artist spent long hours every day wandering around town, searching for the right model. He visited numerous schools and stood by parks and playgrounds where children gathered in large numbers, observing them with great interest. Many caught his attention. Some appeared intelligent, while others looked graceful.

His goal was to meet a boy who embodied both traits.

A Fortuitous Discovery

After a patient search lasting a full year, one day the artist chanced upon a child playing on the banks of a river in front of a small hut. The child’s eyes sparkled with wit, and his face was delicate as a rose, complemented by a bewitching smile.
“Here is the perfect model for the divine child Krishna,” the artist declared. He met the child’s father and gained his consent for the proposal. Every day, the royal coach transported the child from his hut to the artist’s studio.

After several hours of posing, the coach would bring the child back home.

It took the artist a fortnight to complete his portrayal of Krishna. He bestow several gifts on the child before bidding him farewell after the final sitting.

The Quest for Kamsa

Now began a new phase of the artist’s quest. He needed to find someone to model for the depiction of Kamsa. He resumed wandering the streets, this time frequenting areas known as haunts for hooligans and criminals. He observed numerous men who looked aggressive and cruel, but none satisfied his requirements.

A Sudden Turn of Events

However, the artist’s quest came to an abrupt end when the king suddenly died. The prince who ascended the throne was an able and good-natured young man, but he lacked a particular love for art. The artist lost interest in his work, lamenting the loss of his patron.

Years passed, and the artist, now older, was elevated to the position of a minister. One day, the king visited the prison accompanied by all his ministers. As they passed by the rows of cabins, the artist’s attention was captured by a ghastly figure—a prisoner whose intimidating look made his blood run cold!

Recognizing the Past

Instantly, the artist remembered his unfinished painting. “I’ve got my model!” he exclaimed.
“What model?” inquired the king. The artist explained about the late king’s unfulfilled wish and added, “My lord! If you allow this prisoner to be brought to my house for an hour or two every day, I can draw the figure of Kamsa and complete the painting in a fortnight.”

The artist’s request was granted. The next day, the prisoner was taken to the artist’s house under guard. The artist made him sit in a chair and brought out his unfinished painting. After dusting it off, he picked up his brush and prepared to apply the first stroke to the canvas after twenty-five years, when he cast a glance at the prisoner’s face.

The Transformation

But he was taken aback. The eyes of the prisoner that once sparkled with hatred, now brimmed with tears!
“What is the matter with you?” asked the artist, setting down his brush.
“You don’t recognize me, do you? Well, there is nothing unnatural in that. I have become the devil of a man. But twenty-five years ago, when I was a child, you chose me as your model for Krishna on this very canvas!” replied the prisoner, covering his face with his hands.
“What! Are you the one who was my model for Krishna?” the artist exclaimed. “What has become of you?”

“I fell into bad company and gradually began committing heinous acts. Soon, I became the terror of the town, setting records in every kind of crime!” the prisoner lamented. “My deeds and thoughts have marked my face!”

A New Resolution

The old artist stood speechless. A long silence ensued as he kept the canvas back on his rack.
“Are you not going to draw today?” asked the prisoner, wiping his eyes.

The artist approached the prisoner, embraced him, and said, “Neither today nor ever. Your eyes are no longer the same. Your tears have washed away the traits for which I had chosen you as my model. I am sure those ugly traits will never return to your eyes now that you have seen your childhood portrait, your true self! Let the painting remain unfinished; I am not sorry for that!”