The long bodies with well-defined waists and long, thin facial features seen in this stone relief exemplify the style of Pala sculpture in the 11th century. The relief illustrates the moment before Shakyamuni's enlightenment, when the meditating Buddha-to-be was attacked by the demon Mara and his evil forces who challenged his right to seek enlightenment. In response, Shakyamuni reached down to touch the ground, calling upon the earth to validate his quest, a gesture depicted in this sculpture. Steles such as this are found in niches in architectural monuments or shrines.

Eleventh-century Pala art is distinguished by an interest in detail and greater iconographic complexity. Here the central Shakyamuni Buddha figure is seated on an elaborate throne. His right hand makes the earth-touching gesture (bhumisparshamudra), while his left is held in the gesture of meditation (dhyanamudra). Around him are arrayed four smaller buddha images. Each of these five major figures has a nimbus with a decorated border encircling his head or body. In addition to two branches of the pipal tree (Ficus religiosa), under which he achieved enlightenment, Shakyamuni has a canopy above his head. The earth goddess and a male donor are depicted on the pedestal, and the Buddhist consecratory formula is inscribed along its base.

The crouching lions on the base symbolize the Buddha's role as an earthly ruler or king, as well as the process of enlightenment, which is sometimes described as a lion's roar. The Buddha wears a crown and jewelry, adornments that first appear in Pala-period sculptures dating to the 11th century. The importance of crowns in the representation of Shakyamuni and other buddhas has been linked to the development of the esoteric branch of Buddhism, which stresses the importance of rites and ceremonies in the quest for enlightenment.

Each of the surrounding buddhas represents an episode in the life of Shakyamuni, identifiable by subtle variations in their posture and gesture, and the objects held in their hands. Moving clockwise from the lower left are Shakyamuni's descentfrom the Heaven of Thirty-three Gods, which he visited to preach to his mother; the first sermon; the story of a monkey's offering of honey to the Buddha; and the taming of the mad elephant Nalagiri sent by his evil cousin to kill him. The figures are four of a standardized group of scenes called the Eight Great Events. These events can be interpreted as both historical records and as paradigms for the process of enlightenment. For example, the taming of the elephant can be understood as a symbol of the mastery of certain aspects of the self that must be disciplined.