[1] Sanjaya is the advisor of the blind king Dhritarashtra, the ruler of the Kuru kingdom and the father of the Kauravas, as well as serving as his charioteer.

He is stated to have the gift of divya drishti (divine vision), the ability to observe distant events within his mind, granted by Vyasa.

Sanjaya saw: partisans of Dhritarashtra and the Pandavas gathered there, heard with his ears the words of Duryodhana, the fierce battle-cry of grandfather Bhishma, the mighty sound of Panchajanya proclaiming the destruction of the Kurus, and the dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna bringing out the import of the Gita ("Sanjaya's Gift").

Until he had to tell Dhritarashtra the news of the death of his "hundred sons at the hands of Bhima at different points of time in the battle and offers the sorrowing king solace in his darkest hours" ("Vyasa").

He also explains about the military formations adopted by each side on each day, the death of each hero and the details of each war-racing ("Vyasa").

Sanjaya is a virtuous character who "represents intuitive knowledge, which arises from long and arduous spiritual practice, a predominance of sattva and inner awakening" (V, "Symbolism in the Bhagavadgita").

Despite him not being as lucky as Arjuna to earn the divine grace, he is still able to receive knowledge from Lord Krishna because he mastered having control over his body and mind (V, "Symbolism in the Bhagavadgita").

Sanjaya was able to spot when "Arjuna dropped his bow and arrows, and sat down on the seat of the chariot, with his mind overwhelmed with sorrow" (Sharma 11).