Last Existence: Cutting a Bundle of Reeds

Part of a frieze relief with two superimposed registers, the lower one showing scenes from the Princely Life, of the upper one only remain scant traces. The registers are separated by a straight festoon with lozenges. The base consists of a projecting band, whose finish is lost. An almost circular hole for nail is drilled roughly in the centre left of the remaining scene. The back face shows vertical parallel tool marks. The lower register originally depicted two scenes separated by an encased semi-column of the Gandharan-Corinthian type. The scene on the right shows The Cutting of a Bundle of Reeds. Siddhārtha is asked to cut a bundle of reeds in one sword blow; at first, he seems to fail, but actually the cut was so sharp that the severed part of the bundle remains in place. Siddhārtha is depicted twice at the sides of a bundle of tied reeds. On the right, he is standing in profile and is holding a sword. On the left, he is back turned in a mirroring position. A standing figure in right profile is carved on the left. Of the scene on the left only remains the upper architrave of a city door. The upper register is almost completely lost, only traces of probably feet are still visible.