And amongst those who came to Drona was a low-casteprince of non-Aryan birth known as Ekalavya. But Dronawould not accept him as a pupil, lest, as one of the leaders of the lower races, he should come in time to excel all the Aryan princes, and should learn all the secrets of the irmilitary science.
Then Ekalavya, retiring to the forest, made a clay image of Drona, and bowed down before it, worshipping it as his teacher. And by reason of his great reverence and devotion to his purpose, it soon came about that there were few archers in the land equal to Ekalavya. And one day,when all the princes were hunting in the forest, a dog rr an off alone and found himself suddenly face to face with a man of dark hue wearing matted locks besmeared with mud and with his one piece of raiment black in colour.The dog, in his astonishment at this strange sight, began to bark aloud. But before he could close his mouth the prince Ekalavya had shot into it no less than seven arrows,aiming by the sound alone.
But when Drona heard of it he took Arjuna with him and sought out the archer Ekalavya. And when the low-caste prince saw Drona approaching, he prostrated himself and then stood with folded hands awaiting his commands.
And Drona said : " If, O hero, thou art really my pupil,give me, then, the teacher’s fee ! "
" Master," said Ekalavya in his delight, " you have only to name what you will have. I have nothing I would joyfully give you."
"If you really mean it, Ekalavya," answered Dronacoldly," I should like to have the thumb of your right hand." And the low-born prince, allowing no look of sadness tocross his face, turned without ado and cut off the thumb of his own right hand to lay it at the feet of Drona. But when the Brahman had gone and he turned again to his archery, he found that his marvellous lightness of hand was for ever vanished.
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Dinesh said:
Then Ekalavya, retiring to the forest, made a clay image of Drona, and bowed down before it, worshipping it as his teacher. And by reason of his great reverence and devotion to his purpose, it soon came about that there were few archers in the land equal to Ekalavya. And one day,when all the princes were hunting in the forest, a dog rr an off alone and found himself suddenly face to face with a man of dark hue wearing matted locks besmeared with mud and with his one piece of raiment black in colour.The dog, in his astonishment at this strange sight, began to bark aloud. But before he could close his mouth the prince Ekalavya had shot into it no less than seven arrows,aiming by the sound alone.
But when Drona heard of it he took Arjuna with him and sought out the archer Ekalavya. And when the low-caste prince saw Drona approaching, he prostrated himself and then stood with folded hands awaiting his commands.
And Drona said : " If, O hero, thou art really my pupil,give me, then, the teacher’s fee ! "
" Master," said Ekalavya in his delight, " you have only to name what you will have. I have nothing I would joyfully give you."
"If you really mean it, Ekalavya," answered Dronacoldly," I should like to have the thumb of your right hand." And the low-born prince, allowing no look of sadness tocross his face, turned without ado and cut off the thumb of his own right hand to lay it at the feet of Drona. But when the Brahman had gone and he turned again to his archery, he found that his marvellous lightness of hand was for ever vanished.
Dinesh said: