Question

Identify this character of Mahabharata with the help of the following information and choose the correct option :
• He considered himself as a disciple of Dronacharya.
• He honoured his guru by giving his right hand thumb as Gurudakshina.
• He mastered archery through self-practice.

• A. \( \text{Nakul} \)
• B. \( \text{Karna} \)
• C. \( \text{Arjuna} \)
• D. \( \text{Ekalavya} \)

Hint:

• Ekalavya is often cited in modern discourse as a symbol of the struggle against institutionalized social exclusion.
• His story is found in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Concept:

• The Mahabharata illustrates various socio-political themes, including the rigid caste-based access to education and the extreme devotion in the teacher-student relationship.
• The story of the Nishada prince, Ekalavya, is a key narrative regarding these themes.

Step 1: Linking the attributes to the story of Ekalavya
Ekalavya was a forest-dwelling Nishada who wanted to learn archery from Dronacharya, the teacher of the royal Pandavas and Kauravas.
Drona refused him due to his low social standing and his vow to make Arjuna the greatest archer.
Ekalavya did not give up; he built a clay statue of Drona and practiced in front of it as if the teacher were present.
Through this immense focus and self-study, he achieved a level of skill that surpassed Arjuna.

Step 2: Analyzing the sacrifice of the thumb
When Drona discovered Ekalavya's prowess, he realized he had to fulfill his promise to Arjuna.
He asked Ekalavya for 'Gurudakshina' (the fee for the teacher), specifically demanding Ekalavya's right thumb.
Without the thumb, an archer cannot pull the bowstring effectively.
Ekalavya immediately cut off his thumb and offered it to the teacher he had never officially met. This act confirms the character as Ekalavya.