Ekalavya

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In Mahabharata epic, Ekalavya (Sanskrit: एकलव्य, ékalavya) is a young prince of the Nishadha tribes, who achieves a skill level parallel to the great Arjuna, despite Drona's rejection of him.

Becoming a warrior

Drona's rejection

Ekalavya is interested in learning advanced skills of archery and comes to Drona for education/instruction. Drona rejects him on account of him not belonging to the Vedic religion, nor being an Indo-Aryan.

Self-training and prowess

Ekalavya is undeterred, and entering a forest, begins study and practice by himself, having fashioned a clay image of Drona and worshipping him. Solely by his determination, Ekalavya becomes a warrior of exceptional prowess, at par with the young Arjuna. One day, a dog barks while he is focused upon practice, and without looking, the prince fires arrows that seal up the dog's mouth. The Pandava princes see this dog running, and wonder who could have done such a feat. They see Ekalavya, who announces himself as a pupil of Drona.

Ekalavya's dakshina

Arjuna is worried that his position as the best warrior in the world might by usurped. Drona sees his worry, and visits Ekalavya with the princes. Ekalavya promptly worships Drona. Drona is angered by Ekalavya's unscrupulous behavior, i.e., his claiming to be Drona's student despite the former's rejection. Drona asks Ekalavya for a dakshina, or a deed of thanks a student must give to his teacher upon the completion of his training. Drona asks for Ekalavya's right thumb, which Ekalavya unhesitatingly cuts off and hands to Drona, despite knowing that this would irreparably hamper his archery skills. It is said that the story is supposed to be a fable, teaching of the glory of Guru-bhakti, or devotion to Guru. It shows the unparalleled glory of Ekalavya's devotion to his Guru and should be seen from that perspective.

Death of Ekalavya

Ekalavya also finds mention in the Srimad Bhagavatha. Ekalavya fights for King Jarasandha against Sri Krishna and Balarama, and gets killed by the Yadava army in the process.

Modern perspective

The episode of Ekalavya is often criticized by modern scholars as blatant racism and caste discrimination upon the part of Drona and the royal classes.

Ekalavya's example is also invoked in modern literature to cite how teachers and schools in contemporary society often reject genuinely talented and determined pupils out of prejudice.

See also

• The Mahabharata (1999) by Krishna Dharma, Torchlight Publishing
• Hindu mythology

The Mahabharata by Vyasa
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