Sanjaya was one of the most trusted counselors and confidants of King Dhritarashtra. Known for his wisdom, loyalty, and level-headed counsel, he often served as the king’s messenger and advisor, providing both comfort and honest insights during times of uncertainty. Sanjaya’s unwavering loyalty and keen intellect made him an invaluable asset to Dhritarashtra, especially as tension grew between the Pandavas and Kauravas.
When the great war of Kurukshetra was about to commence, the blind king Dhritarashtra was torn between his familial affection for his sons, the Kauravas, and his anxiety over the devastation of war. Seeing his distress, the sage Vyasa, who was also Dhritarashtra’s half-brother, offered the king a choice: he could gain divine vision to witness the war firsthand or have a messenger endowed with the gift of divine insight who could narrate the events as they unfolded. Dhritarashtra, hesitant to witness the devastation directly, chose the second option. Thus, Vyasa granted Sanjaya the boon of divine sight, enabling him to see the entire battlefield of Kurukshetra from wherever he was, a gift that would allow him to describe the war’s unfolding events to Dhritarashtra in vivid detail.
The Battle Narrated by Sanjaya
From his position beside Dhritarashtra in the royal palace at Hastinapura, Sanjaya became the eyes of the blind king. As the battle began, he vividly described each day’s events: the courage, despair, and resilience of warriors, the strategies and formations, the grandeur of heroes like Bhishma, Drona, Arjuna, and Karna—each a pivotal figure in the conflict. His narration was not only a commentary on the physical battles but also on the deeper ethical and spiritual dilemmas that plagued the characters, especially Dhritarashtra, who struggled with his torn loyalties and the realization of his own shortcomings as a king and father.
Sanjaya’s gift of divine vision also allowed him to witness the Bhagavad Gita‘s divine revelation on the battlefield. He observed the profound dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna just before the battle began. When Arjuna was paralyzed with doubt and sorrow, reluctant to kill his kin, friends, and revered elders, Sanjaya watched as Krishna expounded on dharma, the nature of the soul, and the path of righteousness. Sanjaya’s narration of this conversation was instrumental in bringing this spiritual teaching to Dhritarashtra and later to all who read the Mahabharata.
Sanjaya’s Role as a Counselor
While Sanjaya is primarily remembered as the narrator of the battle, his role as Dhritarashtra’s counselor extended well beyond just recounting events. On several occasions, he tried to persuade Dhritarashtra to dissuade his sons, especially Duryodhana, from their path of pride and vengeance. He was a voice of reason and caution, emphasizing the values of peace, compassion, and justice over blind loyalty to family.
Even before the war, Sanjaya served as an emissary between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, urging the latter to make peace. His words carried the wisdom of a man who had seen the devastating consequences of war and understood the fleeting nature of material gain. Sanjaya reminded Dhritarashtra repeatedly that the choice of war would only bring sorrow, not only to the vanquished but also to the victors, as it would erode the very fabric of dharma and lead to widespread suffering.
Sanjaya’s Divine Vision and Its Role in Hindu Philosophy
In Hindu philosophy, Sanjaya’s divine vision represents insight or the higher perspective, where one can see the truth beyond personal attachment and the veil of ignorance. His narration provides an impartial account of the war, free from biases or personal ambitions, a perspective that Dhritarashtra and many others lacked. Sanjaya’s divine sight can be seen as symbolic of the inner vision achieved through wisdom and detachment, allowing one to see events without the distortions of attachment or aversion.
In this sense, Sanjaya embodies the qualities of a sattvic (pure-minded) individual who, while immersed in worldly duties, can rise above them to witness events with clarity and insight. Through Sanjaya, Vyasa also emphasized that true insight comes only to those who are spiritually attuned, righteous, and possess self-discipline—a contrast to those who remain blinded by personal desires and fears, like Dhritarashtra.
Sanjaya and the End of the War
When the war drew to a close, Sanjaya continued to provide a detailed account of its tragic consequences. He described the deaths of the Kaurava brothers, including Duryodhana, and how each of the Kuru dynasty’s proud heroes fell, one after another. Dhritarashtra was devastated to hear about the deaths of his sons and grandsons, but Sanjaya continued to offer him counsel, attempting to console him with words of wisdom, reminding him that their deaths were the result of their choices and actions.
After the war, Sanjaya is said to have continued to serve Dhritarashtra faithfully. When Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, Kunti, and Vidura renounced the world and retired to the forest, Sanjaya accompanied them as their caretaker. He stayed by Dhritarashtra’s side until the end, fulfilling his role as a loyal and compassionate servant, even after the war’s tragic toll had left the Kuru dynasty shattered.
Through his character, Sanjaya represents loyalty, wisdom, and the importance of moral insight. His unflinching devotion to truth and righteousness, along with his loyalty to Dhritarashtra, showcases the role of a true counselor who does not shy away from difficult truths, even when they may be painful to hear.