Sengkuni

Alternative names: Harya Suman, Gandaraputra, Suwalaputra, Trigantalpati, Sakuni

Terms of address: Patih

Type: Human

Origin: India

Description in the Javanese wayang retellings: He is the patih of Astina. Sometimes he is said to be Gendari's twin. After Pandu won Kunti's hand in marriage, the sons of [Suwala] tried to challenge Pandu to a duel. Eventually Pandu won, killing Gendara and taking Gendari as well. Sengkuni followed them to Astina. Sengkuni was angered when Gendari was not married to Pandu - then a king - but to the blind [Drestarastra]. Sengkuni is often characterized as an able politician, but one who constantly harbored ill wishes for the Pandawa and who pursued his goals in dishonest ways. He is an incarnation of Batara [Dwapara] a God that was banished from the heavens for spreading rumors on Batara Bayu. This explains Sengkuni's evil character but also Werkudara's special hatred towards him (Werkudara being an incarnation of Batara Bayu). When Sengkuni first came to Astina, the patih was [Gandamana]. In an expedition, [Gandamana] was trapped in a hole. Instead of helping him, Sengkuni rushed the army back to Astina and said that [Gandamana] had died in an accident. But later the injured [Gandamana] reappeared and hit Sengkuni so badly that he was left badly disfigured. [Ganamana] also placed a curse on Sengkuni. Eventually, Sengkuni became a teacher to the Korawa, imparting to them his brand of evil and Machiavellian philosophy. He often plotted to kill the Pandawa but his plans always failed. But his greatest feat against the Pandawa was defeating Puntadewa in a game of dice - by this means, Puntadewa lost Amarta and was banished for 12 years, together with his brothers. In the Baratadyuda war, Sengkuni led the Gandaradesa army to help the Korawa. He was killed by Werkudara on the 17th day of the war. Sengkuni was indestructible except for his mouth and anus. Werkudara killed and skinned him. Werkudara gave the portion of Sengkuni's skin trapped in his nail to Kunti, who then wore it as a garment, fulfilling an old grudge against Sengkuni.

Notes on the Indian retellings: Sakuni is the maternal uncle of the Kauravas. He plays an important role in helping the Kauravas plot against the Pandavas, finding ways to defeat them, including the game of dice where the Pandavas lose their kingdom to the Kauravas. In the Sanskrit version, he is the same as [Gendara].

Family relationships


Father: Suwala

Siblings: Gandara, Gendari, Sarabasanta, Harya_Gajaksa

Consorts: Sukesti

Offspring: Kertiwindu, Surakesti, Antisura, Antipati, Surabasa

G cluster_family_0 cluster_family_1 union_0 siblings_0 union_0->siblings_0 Sengkuni Sengkuni Sengkuni->union_0 Sukesti Sukesti Sukesti->union_0 Kertiwindu Kertiwindu siblings_0->Kertiwindu Surakesti Surakesti siblings_0->Surakesti Antisura Antisura siblings_0->Antisura Antipati Antipati siblings_0->Antipati Surabasa Surabasa siblings_0->Surabasa union_1 siblings_1 union_1->siblings_1 Suwala Suwala Suwala->union_1 siblings_1->Sengkuni

More information


Killed by: Werkudara

Amulets and hierlooms: Jaman_Mustika_Murda

Takes the shape of: ~Boar

Wanda: Tanggap, Bareh, Clingus, Tanggap, Climut, Mlenyok

Sources


Hardjowirogo, 1948. Sejarah Wayang Purwa. Balai Pustaka, Jakarta, pp. 262-263
H. Solichin, Suyanto, Sumari, Undung Wiyono, Sri Purwanto, 2017. Ensiklopedi Wayang Indonesia. Mitra Sarana Edukasi, Jakarta, pp. 146-157 (Vol. VIII).
Heru S Sudjarwo, Sumari, Undung Wiyono, 2010. Rupa dan Karakter Wayang Purwa. Kakilangit Kencana, Jakarta, pp. 1034-1037.
Purwadi, 2013. Mengenal Gambar Tokoh Wayang Purwa dan Keterangannya. Cendrawasih, Surakarta, p. 221.
Sudibyoprono, R.R., Suwandono, Dhanisworo, Mujiyono, 1991. Ensiklopedi Wayang Purwa. Balai Pustaka, Jakarta, pp. 445-447.

Characters in the same scene (adegan) as Sengkuni


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