Summary of The Envoy

Dutavakya or the Envoy’s Message

Bhasa is one of the most renowned Sanskrit playwrights of ancient India. His plays, over
two thousand years old, were basically based on the two great Indian epics- The
Ramayana and The Mahabharata. But like a modern playwright Bhasa twisted and turned
the plots and characters producing highly innovative and creative plays.
Dutavakya or the Envoy’s Message is one such spectacular play. The title in Sanskrit is
derived from a compound word – dutya-vakya meaning the Envoy’s or Dutya’s vakya or
word.
The play is based on the Udyagparva of the Mahabharata and is a verbal altercation
between Lord Krishna and the debauch Duryodhana.
Dutavakya is a one act play. Bhasa creates a dramatic climax through the envoy of the
Pandava Prince Yudhisthira. Lord Krishna is the envoy or the ambassador here. He has
come as a messenger of peace. He tries to convince Duryodhana to give half of his
kingdom to his cousins and make peace. The conversation that follows is presented in the
play.
The changes brought in by Bhasa is the portrayal of Duryodhana as the emperor in place
of his blind father –Dhristarashtra.
To have a picture scroll of Draupadi being brutally insulted by the Kauravas . This scroll is
most lustfully being viewed by Duryodhana when Krishna enters.
To create human characters of all the weapons of Lord Krishna, Sudarshana being the
primary one. He acts as the super ego of the play and the confidant of Krishna.
The Envoy is one of the most powerful plays of Bhasa and is repeatedly enacted in the
theatres of India even today.

Dr Anuradha
BA semester 4 section C
Dept of English