Ekalavya

In the Mahabharata, the later of the
two great Hindu epics, Ekalavya is a
figure who illustrates the pervasive
reach of the caste system. Ekalavya is
a tribal boy who wants to learn
archery from Drona, the royal archery
teacher, but is refused because of his
low birth. Undaunted, Ekalavya
makes a clay image of Drona, treats it
as his teacher, or guru, and through
assiduous practice and devotion to his
guru becomes the most skilled archer
on the earth. When Arjuna, a young
warrior-king and Drona’s best student, discovers this, he becomes jealous and complains to Drona, since
Drona has promised Arjuna that no
one will surpass him as an archer.
Drona asks Ekalavya how he has
become so skillful. When he learns
that Ekalavya has worshiped Drona’s
image as his guru, Drona notes that he
is entitled to a preceptor’s fee (dakshina). As his fee he requests Ekalavya’s
right thumb, a gift that will considerably diminish Ekalavya’s shooting
abilities. Ekalavya fulfills Drona’s wish
without hesitation, but from that day
is no longer better than Arjuna.