The Case of Ekalavya.

 The Case Of Ekalavya:


The following is generally believed by most people.

1.Ekalavya belonged to a poor oppressed class.

2.He was Denied Education by Dronacharya due to his ‘caste’

3. Dronacharya asked for his right thumb as Gurudakshina.

The TV serial and Certain Opinions in the media , have certainly re-enforced this narrative.

Lets see how much of it is true.

First of all, to understand Mahabharata, you have keep aside your current standards of ‘Good’ and ‘Evil’.

Someone rightly said-you have to live the Mahabharata, than Judge it. Because if the people in those times, judge you, they may also find you wrong.

Coming to the variuos Facts.

1. Ekalavya was a cousin of Krishna. He was the son of Krishna’s father Vasudev’s Brother Devashrava.  He was abandoned( Reasons not given)  and adapted by the King of Nishadas-Hiranyadhanus. Basically he was a Prince of the Nishada Kingdom. Nishadas were a Hunter Tribe.         ( Ref: Harivamsha Purana, chapter 34).

2. Nishadas were the allies of Jarasanda, the sworn enemies of Krishna .

3. When Ekalavya approaches Drona to teach him Archery, Drona has already seen his skills earlier.

Since Ekalavya belongs  to the Hunter tribe-his archery skills were already Good.                              Drona knew Ekalavya would turn out to be better than Arjuna, if he trains under him.

Dronacharya doesnt wan't a student who will be better than Arjuna. His ‘caste’ was not the reason.

(Ref: Mahabharata (MB) :Adi parva,section 134).

4. Why doesnt Dronacharya want anyone else better than Arjuna?

   When Drona first starts teaching the children of Kuru, he asks in general- ‘who will fulfill my secret Desire ( of taking revenge on Drupada)”.  Only Arjuna had raised his hand. Drona decided that- "Arjuna would be the best in the ‘world’

( Ref: MB Adi Parva, section 134).

5. Drona asking thumb from Ekalavya: Once, when the kurus were roaming in the forest, their dog goes ahead, but comes back with mouth full of arrows. It was done by Ekalavya.                                               When asked- “who Taught you?”. He said “ Drona”.

 Arjuna feels Jealous and later asks Drona    “ But, you said, I would be the greatest Archer in the world”.

Drona calls Ekalavya for his Gurudakshina as he claims to be his teacher. Thats when Drona asks for his right Thumb. 

( Ref: MB Adi Parva, section 134).


6. Much later Ekalavya was killed by Krishna Himself, when he allied with Jarasanda to attack Mathura.( Bhagavatha Purana).

7.On the Battlefield too, Krishna reminds Arjuna that, If Ekalavya's Thumb wasn't asked as GuruDakshina, Were not Jarasanda and Ekalavya not killed, they would have created more problems now.

( Ref: MB Drona Parva, section 181)


‘Caste’ was never the issue with the case of Ekalavya.

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