ARJUNA AND SUBHADRA: Arjuna was the third Pandava. The present scene depicts the marriage of Arjuna to Subhadra as described in the Mahabharata, Adi-Parva Chapters 218-224. Arjuna met Gada, brother of Sri Krishna who described to Arjuna the great beauty of his sister, Subhadra. Arjuna disguised as a sanyasin abducted Subhadra.
In this print from the Ravi Varma Press derived from a painting by Raja Ravi Varma, Arjuna is depicted as a hermit dressed in ascetic attire enticing Subhadra towards him. Subhadra is depicted a young girl shyly resisting his advances.