Sanjaya – The Man with a DIVINE Mission
Sanjaya was the charioteer and advisor of the blind King, Dhrutarashtra. He came from a family of charioteers and his father was Rishi, Gavalgana. He was a disciple of the sage Veda Vyasa and an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. He was popularly known for depicting the events that unfolded on the battlefield between the Kauravas and the Pandavas through the gifted ability to see happenings there without being physically present during the war.
His narration of Lord Krishna’s message to Arjuna, popularly known as the Bhagavad Gita was unbiased and an eye-opener to the King. He never added spicy words to please the King. He prompted the King to do something in favour of the rivals.
Sanjaya was mostly known for reciting the conversations of Lord Krishna and Arjuna before the commencement of the war. With the majestic visual powers granted to him by Sri Vedavyasa, he could narrate all incidents that took place in the war from the first to the death of Duryodhana.
He was not affected by the unfortunate incidents that unfolded in the war such as the death of Bhisma, Drona, Karna and other mighty warriors on the side of the Kauravas. He was nonchalant with the victories and the defeats in the war.
Several incidents unfolded in the Mahabharata when his master, Dhrutarashtra used his services several times. In several ‘parvas,’ the noble deeds of Sanjaya were narrated which exponentially depict his honourable character and his dutiful devotion to his King.
In Udyoga and Vana Parvas
There was a narration in the Udyoga Parva. When the Pandavas were defeated in the game of dice and sent to the forest, Dhrutarashtra sent Sanjaya to the Pandavas to appease them from restraining from war as the king knew the fighting spirit of the Pandavas in the battle. He tried to explain to Yudhishthira the desire of the king not to have battle but peace between the brothers. After his return, he explained to him that the Pandavas were already engaged in preparations for the war.
In the Vana Parva, there was another story when Dhrutarashtra sent Sanjaya to bring back Vidura who left the king and assembled with the Pandavas in the Kamyaka forest, because of some difference of opinion on the punishment given to the Pandavas in sending them to the forest. He was successfully consoled, advised and brought him back to the fort.
In the Udyog Parva, there was a reference that he advised the king to control his son, Dhuryodhana as he committed many misdeeds with his ego which would bring doomsday to the Kingdom of the Kauravas.
Even in his final days, Sanjaya did not leave the king alone. He went to the forest with the king and his wife. His end came dramatically. When the king, his wife and Kunti were walking in the forest, they were engulfed by a huge forest fire. Even though the king asked him to run away and save his life, he was not inclined to leave the king.
Sanjaya – Good Narrator
Sanjaya was entrusted with narrating the incidents that unfolded in the war and while narrating so he never popped up his opinion until the last chapter of the great Bhagawad Gita (The Gita, Ch.18, Slokas 74 to 78.) He predicted with certainty and said to the King the outcome of the war even before its commencement.
Yatra yogeshvarah Krishno
yatra Partho dhanur-dharah
Tatra shrir vijayo bhutir
dhruva nitir matir mama ||
Wherever there is Lord Krishna and Arjuna, there shall be unending opulence, victory, prosperity and righteousness.
Good Listener
With his blessed powers, he listened to the conversation of Lord Krishna and Arjuna and meticulously narrated it to the King. As a narrator, he never expressed his opinion or his thoughts on the subject, a great quality a listener should have while narrating the incidents to others.
Good Communicator
The role of a communicator is to communicate what exactly he heard, saw or visualised and communicate without adding his opinions, his commentaries or even his perceptions. Sanjaya never showed his personal feelings when the mighty warriors died on either side of the battle.
He did not express any anguish when he narrated the death of Duryodhana even though it was the most unpleasant incident for the King.
Gratitude towards his ‘Guru’
When there were a host of advisors and ministers to the King, Veda Vyasa had chosen Sanjaya to narrate what was happening in the war because he knew that he was impartial, truthful and virtuous. He expressed gratitude to his ‘guru’ in the 75th sloka in the 18th chapter.
It is as follows
Vyasa-prasadach chhrutavan
etad guhyam aham param
Yogam Yogeshvarat Krishnat
sakshat kathayatah svayam
Final Word
Sanjaya came from a family of charioteers, rose to the position of being a personal advisor to the King, blessed with the visual merits of none other than the sage Veda Vyasa. ‘Sanjaya vuvacha’ is a popular expression in the Bhagavad Gita.
The story of Sanjaya brings us several life skilled lessons. His way of communication, his method of narration and his duty to his King are exemplary. Salutations to Sanjaya, the Man with a Divine Vision.
Click here – Mahabharatam in a Glance
