# Krishna entertains his companions

- Date: ca. 1760-1765
- Medium: Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
- Classification: Paintings
- Dimensions: H x W (overall): 11.5 × 16.4 cm (4 1/2 × 6 7/16 in)
- Culture: Himalayan peoples
- Credit line: Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection — funds provided by the Friends of the National Museum of Asian Art
- Museum: [Smithsonian Institution](https://asia.si.edu/object/S2018.1.8/)
- Rights: [CC0 (Smithsonian Open Access)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://invisiblenetwork.ai/thumbs/web/1767390683648eb046d42ace7dfbf873.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

Pastoral images of a musical Krishna among his childhood cowherding community are popular in Hindu visual culture. The scene embodies Krishna bhakti, a form of devotionalism that emphasizes the personal relationship with a god who is both transcendent and accessible. Highlighted against a black ground and sheltered by lush trees, Krishna and his gently smiling companions are joyful. Devoted cows and a sleeping calf surround them. Throughout devotional poetry, Krishna and the Vrindaban cows have a special relationship: the village cows seek out Krishna's affection and refuse to be milked by anyone but the god.