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Ekalavya and Dron
Ekalavya and Dron
There are some popular misconceptions about some characters in
Mahabharat. One such story deals with Ekalavya and Guru Dron. The
misconception perpetuated is that Guru Dron asked the right thumb of
Ekalavya because the latter belonged to a lower caste/class.
This is incorrect as per sanskrit Mahabharat (Nilkanth copy) as well
as Bhandarkar Institute reseached copy. The Bhandarkar Institute
copy was the main source for the Mahabharat TV series and it
gives the correct reason (as does the series).
Ekalavya was a Nishad. His father, the leader (King) of Nishads,
was in the employ of Jarasandh (king of Magadh), as one of the
army commanders. Jarasandh was an adversary of the Kuru Hastinapur
Kingdom (where Pandu and Dhritarashtra ruled). Ekalavya 'snooped'
to learn Guru Dron's vidya. Dron foresaw that Ekalavya may use this
vidya against Dron's employer, King of Hastinapur and hence asked
the right thumb as Guru DakshiNa and thus denied the advantage
Ekalavya had gained. Later on Ekalavya did work as a confidant of
Jarasandh. Specifically, at the time of Rukmini Swayamvar, Ekalavya
was the messenger between Shishupal and Rukmini's father Bhishmak, at
Jarasandh's behest. Rukmini eloped with Krishna.
Later Krishna himself killed Ekalavya in one of his many conflicts
against Jarasandh's army.
Thus EKALAVYA STORY HAS NOTHING WHAT SO EVER TO DO WITH HIS HUMBLE
CASTE.
Following Book gives original sanskrit shlokas and removes falsehoods
created about Mahabharat by so called experts.
Reference: Vastav Darshan of Mahabharat By Prof.A.D.Athawale, l
Continental Book Service, Pune, 1970, 284 pages.
