Ekalavya's Unwavering Devotion

After the day's lessons, Dronacharya and the princes went hunting, along with their dog. The dog raced ahead of the princes and began barking when it saw a lad practicing archery. Unable to concentrate because of the noise, the lad tried—unsuccessfully—to drive the dog away. Frustrated, he shot a series of arrows into the dog's mouth, which silenced the dog without hurting it. The dog ran back to its owners. The princes saw the arrows in the dog's mouth and were stunned by this demonstration of archery.

Dronacharya was more worried than surprised. An unknown forest-dweller had turned out to be a better archer than Arjuna. Dronacharya and the princes followed the dog and reached the lad, who was engrossed in his archery practice.

"Wonderful!" exclaimed Dronacharya. "Who are you, son?"

"I am Ekalavya, the son of King Hiranyadhanush of the Nishada tribe," answered the lad. "The same Ekalavya whom you once refused to take on as your student."

"Then who is your guru?" asked Dronacharya.

"It is you!" Ekalavya replied. "Who else can my guru be?"

Ekalavya pointed at a mud statue of Dronacharya, which he had built. He had trained himself in archery with the idol as his guide.

Dronacharya had always wanted Arjuna to become the greatest archer in the world. He pondered for a while and said, "I am honored that you regard me as your guru. But then, it is your duty to pay me guru dakshina (a traditional offering given by a student to a teacher as a token of gratitude for instruction and guidance). Will you do that?"

"Certainly! I will give you anything you ask for," Ekalavya replied earnestly.

"Give me your right thumb as guru dakshina," said Dronacharya in a somber tone. All the princes were dumbfounded.

Without a moment's hesitation, Ekalavya took out a dagger, chopped off his right thumb, and gave it to the guru. Dronacharya quietly accepted the thumb and returned home with the princes, leaving Ekalavya to his fate.