Last Existence: Princely Life

Fragment of a frieze relief with two separated scenes from the Princely Life, that on the left preserving only a figure. The scenes are separated by a framed semi/half column of the Gandharan-Corinthian type. The base consists of a plain band below and a plain fillet above. The back shows vertical tool marks. The surviving scene represents the Story of the White Elephant. Devadatta, Siddhārtha’s cousin, kills the state white elephant at the city gate of Kapilavastu, blocking the passage. After Ānanda’s unsuccessful attempt to throw the animal away, the Bodhisattva managed to hurl it out the city’s wall thanks to his physical strength. On the left, a male figure, probably Siddhārtha, is grasping the elephant’s tail with the right hand. He is carved frontally, the weight of his body is placed on the right leg, the left hand is on the waist. He appears to be bare-chested, and is wearing a paridhāna with a girdle and wristlets. The elephant, crouching on the left, is shown in right profile. Only a male figure remains in the left scene. He is standing in a three-quarter view and with both hands raised. His hair is arranged in a small knot. He wears an uttarīya and a paridhāna with a girdle. An architraved door of the Western type is carved on the figure’s proper left, attached to the dividing element.