The Clay-Statue Archer
(from the Ādi-parva of the Mahābhārata)
1 Setting the Scene
Long before the great war of Kurukṣetra, the princes of Hastināpura studied the arts of combat at Gurukula—a forest academy. Their teacher was the legendary archer Droṇa Ācārya. Among the students, prince Arjuna quickly became Droṇa’s favorite, and Droṇa secretly promised to make him “the greatest bowman on earth.”
Deep in the same forest lived a tribal boy named Ekalavya from the Niṣāda clan of hunters. He, too, dreamed of mastering the bow.
2 The Teacher Who Said “No”
Ekalavya once walked days through the jungle to reach Droṇa’s hut. Bowing low, he begged,
“Gurudeva, make me your student.”
But Droṇa thought, If this talented outsider joins the class, my promise to Arjuna may break. So he said politely, “I teach only princes.” Heartbroken, Ekalavya left—but his desire did not leave him.
3 The Clay Guru and Tireless Practice
Back home, Ekalavya molded a life-sized clay statue of Droṇa, placed it beneath a tree, and declared,
“गुरुर्ब्रह्मा इति मन्ये—My guru is as sacred as a god.”
Every sunrise he saluted the clay Droṇa, then practiced:
tying eight arrows to one string and firing at a single leaf,
shooting by sound alone with eyes closed,
releasing shafts so fast they whistled like angry bees.
Rain or heat, he kept at it until the jungle itself whispered of an unseen archer mightier than the kings’ own sons.
4 A Dog, a Quiver, a Mystery
One afternoon Droṇa and the royal boys hunted nearby. A palace hound ran ahead, barking ferociously. Moments later the dog returned—alive but unable to bark! Seven arrows had sealed its mouth without drawing blood.
The princes gasped. Who could shoot with such gentleness yet precision? They traced the arrows to a clearing where Ekalavya stood, bow lowered.
Droṇa asked, “Young man, whose student are you?”
Ekalavya touched his heart and pointed to the clay statue.
“गुरुरेवासि मे—You are my guru, sir.”
5 The Costly Gift (Guru-Dakṣiṇā)
Droṇa felt pride … then fear for his promise to Arjuna. A teacher may claim a fee called guru-dakṣiṇā. Droṇa said,
“गुरुदक्षिणां ब्रूहि”—
Name the offering you owe your teacher.”
Ekalavya beamed. “Command me, Gurudeva!”
Droṇa whispered the unthinkable:
“अङ्गुष्ठं याचे”—
I ask for your right thumb.”
The jungle went silent. Without his thumb, Ekalavya could never shoot the same again. Yet he answered,
“आदेशात् करवाणि”—
Your order is my duty.”
He sliced off his thumb, placed it at Droṇa’s feet, and—unshaken—bowed.
6 Aftermath and Lesson
Ekalavya retrained himself using three fingers; he remained swift, though no longer unbeatable. Arjuna kept Droṇa’s title of greatest archer. But generations remember Ekalavya as the symbol of unmatched dedication and the question: Was Droṇa’s request just or jealous?
Five Sanskrit Lines to Remember
| # | Sanskrit (Devanāgarī) | Transliteration | Meaning to Keep in Mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | गुरुर्ब्रह्मा इति मन्ये | gurur brahmā iti manye | “I regard my guru as divine.” |
| 2 | गुरुदक्षिणां ब्रूहि | gurudakṣiṇāṁ brūhi | “State the fee you owe your teacher.” |
| 3 | अङ्गुष्ठं याचे | aṅguṣṭhaṁ yāce | “I request your (right) thumb.” |
| 4 | आदेशात् करवाणि | ādeśāt karavāṇi | “I shall do as you command.” |
| 5 | श्रमेण सिद्धिः | śrameṇa siddhiḥ | “Success comes through hard work.” |
Why Share This Story with Kids?
Passion Can Find a Path
Rejected by the best school, Ekalavya built his own classroom.Respect and Reflection
Blind obedience may cost dearly; balanced guidance is kinder than extreme demands.Resilience
Even after losing his thumb, Ekalavya kept practicing—a reminder that setbacks are not full stops.
Tell this tale whenever courage or creativity feels blocked. Like Ekalavya, a determined heart can carve a practice range out of ordinary clay—and still hit the mark.
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