Today , in Mahabharata and Some Context blog , i am going to discuss the characterization of Eklavya who had not direct contribution in Mahabharata nevertheless he could be option for the great archer Arjuna. He was the prince of 'Nishadha' clan. His spirit of devotion and dedication towards his master or Guru was unique and impossible for other. We generally says ,"Knowledge is difficult without direct training of master" but Eklavya is not only example for self-training but he is the inspirations for a person who want to learn and study self. Eklavya is still a respected name in education field and is ideal for many students in india.
Eklavya was born in 'Nishadha' clan in Aryavarta. His father, Hiranyadhanusha , was the king of 'Nishadha' clan.Well , several myths about the birth of Eklavya are prevalent. Like , it is written somewhere that Eklavya was the forest son of Vasudeva's brother Devashrawa and Nishadha's girl , who was brought up by Hirnadhanusha so that he was the blood relative to Vasudeva Krishna. Or some evidence says that he was the son of Shrutkirti and Hirnadhanush and daughter of Shrutkirti , Rukmani , was married to Vasudeva Krishna so that he was the brother-in-law of Vasudeva Krishna .But the talent and dedication of that Nishadha prince is not confined to any introduction .
After the mother's refusal , small boy Eklavya with dream of becoming an archer in eyes came to Guru Dronacharya . But Dronacharya denied him to education and training due to his clan 'Nishadha' because Dronacharya did educate only the 'Kshatriyas' or warrior race .This kind of attitude may be discriminatory but he believed that the 'Kshatriyas' are reserved for protection of society and if other sections have been given the knowledge of weapons by him then they can misuse the power towards 'Kshatriyas' so that class struggle will flourish. Therefore , main responsibility to protect the society would be incomplete. Whatever in the circumstances of today ,this policy would be unfair because now is the era of equality and the rule has come in the hands of people away from the kings.
Now , desperate and frustrated from Dronacharya , Nishadha prince Eklavya practiced hard of archery in forest by watching the training session of princes of Hasthinapur and he considered Dronacharya as guru in his mind . To maintain obeisance in his guru , he made clay statue of Dronacharya . By daily worshiping of clay statue and watching the training session of princes , he practiced the every trick of archery with concentration and dedication .
One day , Guru Dronacharya took all kuru princes to forest to the training . Where all princes were practicing studiously then abruptly , the sound of barking dog ruined their concentration .
The Guru Dronacharya said to his favorite disciple Arjuna to stop the dog's voice but as soon as he could make a move , the dog's voice suddenly broke down . But when Dronacharya saw the dog and found that dog's mouth was closed by arrows in a way , so that the voice of barking dog had turned off and dog's nozzle was not pricked by point of arrows . it was required the right balance of force and distance putting on the bow's string to aiming arrow so exquisitely and that excellence was not in any disciple of Dronacharya .
By searching in direction of arrow , Dronacharya saw that a teenager was aiming arrow with extremely concentration . When Guru Dronacharya went to that teen then teen Eklavya welcomed him with obeisance .
Guru Dronacharya then said - "O son! You are very excellent in archery, who is your master" . Happy with address of master , Eklavya said submissively - "Hey Brahmin! my teacher is yourself" . Dronacharya asked surprised to hear this- "How!" . Eklavya then took him to clay statue , Eklavya used to practice as assuming Guru . Seeing the statue of himself Dronacharya said- "My son! i do not remember when i taught you so say clearly" . Then Eklavya said , when in childhood you refused me to accept as a student then i practiced myself by considering you as my Guru and by watching the training session of princes.
By listening to teen eklavya , Guru Dronacharya felt both affection and fury . Affection because of child had worked excellently more than his direct pupils by virtue of his passion and yet he was respecting his master by polite gesture . And rage because of he saw the training session of princes in Hasthinapur on the quiet . It was against the law of state and it could be result in confinement .
And then Dronacharya remembered the blessing given to Arjuna that- "Arjuna will be the best archer of Aryawarta or India" . But the talent and hard work of Eklavya had stuck hinder in blessing of Dronacharya and living of Eklavya , Arjuna was not best archer .
so to fulfilling his blessing and to protect from punishment due to secretly watched training session of princes , Guru Dronacharya demanded Eklavya's right-hand thumb as Guru-Dakshina or service for being Guru . So that Eklavya would be unable to aiming arrow and there would no importance of learned knowledge of him .All Kuru princes were very surprised to hear this service or Guru-Dakshina but Eklavya cut his right-hand thumb and dedicated at the feet of his master in a single stroke . And this moment made this 'Nishadha' prince Eklavya immortal and Eklavya became not just a name but the legend in indian mythology .
Since Hirnyadhanush was the commander of Magadh king Jarasangh's Army so Eklavya had also joined the forces of the Jarasangh . He , as orders of Jarasangh , worked as messenger between Rukmani's father Bheeshmak and Shishupal for marriage of Rukmani and Shishupal and killed by Vasudev Krishna in the war between Yadavas and Jarasangh .
But even today , Dronacharya's demand of Eklavya's thumb is considered as unethical by some reviewers but Eklavya was made immortal by this event and Anyway if Eklavya would be the best archer then certainly he would fight in favor of Jarasangh and would be killed due to fight in favor of wrongdoing or injustice or 'Adharma' and his glory would be overshadowed . And today , we do not remember him just like the way as we have been so far . I salute this pupil Eklavya for his dedication and great spirit .
Thank You
