The Tale of Eklavya: Unparalleled Archer and Devoted Disciple

Image generated using ChatGPT 4 from the prompt: image of Eklavya practicing archery with Dronacharya's mud statue in the background.

During the Mahabharat, archery was the primary mode of fighting, so the quest for the most excellent archer in the world was on. Arjun and Karn were vying for this position; there could hardly be any other contenders. Or could there be?

Rejected Royalty: Eklavya's Quest for Dronacharya's Tutelage

Eklavya, the prince of Nishadh, once traveled to Hastinapur and approached Dronacharya for his tutelage. The latter flatly refused because Eklavya wasn't "royal enough".

The Unexpected Archer: A Princely Discovery

One day, the Pandavas, Kauravas, and their teacher, Dronacharya, were playing with their dog. Their dog disappeared, and a short while later, the others heard the dog barking. They followed the dog's bark only to find a young lad practicing archery.

Silencing the Bark: The Archer's Ingenious Shot

Unable to concentrate due to the noise, the lad shot a series of arrows into the dog's mouth, which shut its mouth without hurting it.

The Self-Taught Prodigy: Eklavya's Devotion Unveiled

Dronacharya was taken aback by the lad's skill and compassion toward the animal. 

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

The young man identified himself as Eklavya, the son of King Hiranyadhanush of Nishadh, who had once unsuccessfully approached Dronacharya to learn archery from him.

"Then who is your guru?" asked Dronacharya. 

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

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

The Price of Devotion: Eklavya's Sacrifice

Dronacharya thought for a while and said, "If I'm essentially your guru, shouldn't you pay me guru dakshina?" 

Eklavya readily agreed to make any payment. In a somber tone, Dronacharya asked Eklavya for his right thumb as payment. Eklavya promptly took out a dagger, chopped off his right thumb, and gave it to the guru. Dronacharya, his other students, and the dog left Eklavya's place. Eklavya was no longer the greatest archer in the world.