Mahābhārata · Sanskrit Epic
Eklavya's Devotion
एकलव्यस्य गुरुभक्तिः
Mahābhārata · Ādi Parva · Āraṇyakaparva section (अादिपर्व) · Beginner Sanskrit
Moral · धर्मः
गुरौ भक्तिः सर्वोत्तमा विद्या।
gurau bhaktiḥ sarvottamā vidyā.
“Devotion to the teacher is the highest knowledge.”
The Rejected Student
एकलव्यः निषाद-कुलस्य बालकः आसीत्। तस्य हृदये एकम् स्वप्नम् आसीत् — महान् धनुर्धरः भवितुम्। सः द्रोणाचार्यस्य आश्रमम् अगच्छत्। "आचार्य! मां शिष्यं स्वीकुरु।" इति सः प्रणम्य अयाचत। द्रोणः तं दृष्ट्वा अमनस्विनः अभवत्। "पुत्र, अहं केवलं राजकुमाराणाम् शिक्षकः अस्मि।" इति सः अवदत्। एकलव्यः दुःखितः परन्तु निराशः न अभवत्।
Eklavya was a boy from the Nishada community — hunters and forest-dwellers. In his heart lived one dream — to become a great archer. He went to the ashram of Dronacharya. "Acharya! Accept me as your student," he bowed and begged. Drona was troubled when he looked at him. "Son, I am only the teacher of royal princes," he said. Eklavya was sad — but he did not despair.
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