The painting depicts the celebrated folk tale of Rajapala stealing the clothes of one of the seven heavenly nymphs as the celestial figures bathed in the river. The tale could be dated before the 15th century and it existed in varied forms in different Southeast Asian countries as well as in the East Asian folk tales. A tale that mingles romance and adventure, it inevitably inspires artists and artisans who created countless works from the tale. All of the works, with a few exceptions would choose to depict the most dramatic moment when the hero plans the stealing while the nymphs oblivious to the mischief are enjoying themselves.