Dronacharya was the guru of the Pandava and Kaurava princes. One day, a dark-complexioned young boy approached Dronacharya and prostrated before him. Drona lifted him gently and asked him what he could do for him.
The boy said, "My Lord, I have come to you to learn archery. Please accept me as your disciple."
Drona appreciated his humility and approach.
He looked at him kindly and asked, "Who are you?"
The boy replied, "I am Ekalavya, the son of Hisanyodanus, the king of the foresters."

Drona was sad that the boy was not a Kshatriya but belonged to a low caste.
He said, "My boy, I cannot accept you as my disciple because I am committed to train the Kshatriya princes only. They will not welcome you."
Ekalavya, disappointed and broken-hearted, returned to the forest. But though he was unhappy he bore not the least ill-will towards Drona. Instead he mentally accepted him as his guru and made an image of Drona in clay and started worshipping him in the clay image. Everyday he would worship this image with great devotion and then practise archery. Soon he became a matchless archer by virtue of his deep devotion to his guru.

One day the Pandavas and the Kauravas went hunting in the forest. One of their hunting dogs met Ekalavya in the forest and started barking at him. To silence the dog he sent seven arrows into its mouth. The arrows were interlaced and woven so skilfully that the dog could not close its mouth. When the Pandavas saw the dog's mouth they were astonished at the skill of the archer.

They searched the forest for him and found him practising various difficult feats of archery in front of his Guru's image. They inquired who he was.
Ekalavya replied, "Oh heroes, I am Ekalavya, the son of the Nishada King Hisanyodanus. Know me to be Drona's disciple, labouring hard to master the science of archery by my guru's grace."

When the Pandavas returned to Hastinapura they told Drona about Ekalavya and his wonderful skill in archery.
Arjuna, sad at heart, approached Drona privately and said, "You have promised me that no pupil of yours will be my equal in archery. Then how is it that this Nishada boy, who claims to be your disciple, is more skilful than I?"

Drona did not remember Ekalavya. So he went with Arjuna to the forest. There he saw Ekalavya with matted locks and dressed in the skin of a leopard. He was ceaselessly shooting arrows. Seeing his guru, Ekalavya rushed to him with great joy and prostrated on the ground. Then he stood before him in great reverence with joined palms. Drona asked him when he became his pupil. Ekalavya then related how he had mentally accepted him as his guru and became his disciple in spite of Drona's refusal to teach him archery.
On hearing the whole story, Drona very unwillingly said, "My boy, if you are really my disciple, give the offering due to a guru." Ekalavya was pleased on hearing this.
He said, "Oh, illustrious one, what shall I give you? Command me. There is nothing that I cannot offer to my guru."
Drona hesitatingly said, "Give me your right thumb as the offering."

Being ever-devoted to his guru, Ekalavya at once cut off his thumb with a cheerful face and offered it to Drona. Then he again fell at the feet of his guru and saluted him. Drona and Arjuna walked silently back to Hastinapura.

When Ekalavya again began to shoot with the help of his other fingers, he found he had lost his former deftness of hand and skill in archery. He had made true his guru's declaration that none would equal Arjuna in archery. Ekalavya has thus immortalized himself by his extreme devotion to his guru.

Source:Reprinted from Constant Remembrance magazine, Shri Ram Chandra Mission USA

Q: How do you think it was possible for Ekalavya to be obedient to his guru, even when this required him cutting off his own thumb?

Q: When do you find it easy to obey others, and when is it difficult?

Q: Ekalavya had many qualities that can be emulated. Can you name a few?

O, Master!
Thou art the real goal of human life.
We are yet but slaves of wishes
Putting bar to our advancement,
Thou art the only God and power
To bring us up to that stage.