Why did Drona refuse to have Eklavya as his pupil?

Question

Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Proper social roles

Here is a story from the Adi Parvan of the Mahabharata: Once Drona, a Brahmana who taught archery to the Kuru princes, was approached by Ekalavya, a forest dwelling nishada (a hunting community). When Drona, who knew the dharma, refused to have him as his pupil, Ekalavya returned to the forest, prepared an image of Drona out of clay, and treating it as his teacher, began to practise on his own. In due course, he acquired great skill in archery. One day, the Kuru princes went hunting and their dog, wandering in the woods, came upon Ekalavya. When the dog smelt the dark nishada wrapped in ** deer skin, his body caked with dirt, it began to bark. Annoyed, Ekalavya shot seven arrows into its mouth. When the dog returned to the Pandavas, they were amazed at this superb display of archery. They tracked down Ekalavya, who introduced himself as a pupil of Drona. Drona had once told his favourite student Arjuna, that he would be unrivalled amongst his pupils. Arjuna now reminded Drona about this. Drona approached Ekalavya, who immediately acknowledged and honoured him as his teacher. When Drona demanded his right thumb as his fee, Ekalavya unhesitatingly cut it and offered it. But thereafter, when he shot with his remaining fingers, he was no longer as fast as he had been before. Thus, Drona kept his word: no one was better than Arjuna.

(i) Why did Drona refuse to have Eklavya as his pupil?

(ii) What did Drona demand from Eklavya? How did Eklavya react on it?

(iii) Why did Drona ask for such type of gurudakshina? Give reasons.

Answer 1

(i)

i. Ekalavya was the Nishadas.

ii. The Nishadas were jungle tribes and were generally considered to be outcastes.

iii. was not a Kshatriya, and in those days only Kshatriyas were supposed to get a military education.

(ii)

i. Drona acted in order to protect Arjuna'* status as the greatest archer

ii. When Drona demanded his right thumb as his fee, Ekalavya unhesitatingly cut it *** and offered it.

iii. But thereafter, when he shot with his remaining fingers, he was no longer as fast as he had been before.

(iii)

i. Drona kept his promise for Arjuna as Drona had once told his favorite student Arjuna, that he would be unrivalled amongst his pupils

ii. Drona for keeping his promise for Arjuna compelled Eklavya to cut *** his thumb and offer it to himself as guru dakshina and Eklavya acknowledged it and honored him the same.