The piece shows the bearded sage Asita, on the left, holding the infant Prince Siddhartha on his lap. (The prince's father is seated on the right.)
Asita had heard about the birth of Siddhartha, the future Buddha, and made his way to Kapilavastu to see the boy. The sage recognized in the child the 32 signs of a “great man” and, having no doubts, identified the boy as the future Ruler of the World. He also foresaw that Siddhartha would leave his parents’ home in search of religious fulfilment.