Template:Sangkuni

Sangkuni – (Patih) – Mahabharata

Arya Sangkuni is intelligent, but a great schemer. He is a liar, always knows how to twist the truth and causes a lot of misfortune to both the Pandawa and the Korawa. At Gandara's suggestion, the Pandawa sleep in a house in the forest. That house is full of flammable materials and is set on fire one night. The Pandawa manage to escape through a tunnel.

When the Madura country was ruled by Prabu Kuntiboja, the king held a competition to choose a husband for Dewi Kunti. Accompanied by his younger sister, Dewi Gendari, she was about to participate in the race but arrived too late. On the way he met Raden Pandu who had won the competition. Harya Sakuni wanted to seize Dewi Kunti and a war broke out. Sakuni lost and gave his younger sister Gendari, as atonement for his defeat.

Upon arriving in Astina, Dewi Gendari was married to Raden Destarastra. After Destarastra became the king of Astina, Harya Sakuni was appointed as Patih.
Harya Sakuni was good at talking, but he was not honest. He always used his cleverness to deceive. But because of his cleverness, he was also useful for the country of Astina. Such customs of behavior caused the Javanese language to use the analogy of "Like Sakuni" for someone who is resourceful.
Because he was good at using language and twisting his tongue, Sakuni's words were always on point and could trap his opponents. His words were pleasant to hear and those who heard them were attracted as if they were being used for love. Considering his origins, he was a noble person who had the right to be the king of the Palasajenar country, but after he followed his sister who later married Prabu Destarastra, the king of the Astina country who had a hundred children, he burdened Astina.

In the country of Astina, Sakuni had a close friend, namely Pandita Durna, who had the same character as him. These two figures lead Astina in difficult situations and problems. In wayang they are generally considered bad characters, even though they are not just random people and just because they side with Astina, they are considered bad characters.

Arya Sengkuni was not only an expert in strategy, administration and state management but also skilled in military skills. He has an heirloom in the form of Cis (=Short spear to command elephants) which has the property of generating water when stuck into the ground. In the Bharatayuda war, Arya Sengkuni was appointed as the Great Senapati of Kurawa after the death of Prabu Salya, king of the Mandaraka country.

Arya Sengkuni dies very sadly at the hands of Wrekodara (Bima). His mouth was torned open by Wrekodara. Sakuni's death symbolizes that a clever person who is dishonest should have his mouth torn apart. His body was skinned and his skin was given to Dewi Kunti to fulfill her vow. Sakuni's body was then crushed with the Rujakpolo club.

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Source: History of Wayang Purwa - Hardjowirogo - PN Balai Pustaka - 1982