Bhagavad Gita · Mahabharata Codex

Ekalavya

एकलव्य · ekalavya

Prince of the forest-dwelling Nishadas; self-taught archer

He paid his teacher's fee with the thumb he drew his bow with.

Ekalavya came to Drona to learn archery and was turned away because of his birth. He made a clay image of Drona in the forest and practised before it until he surpassed even Arjuna. When Drona found out, he asked for his fee: the thumb of Ekalavya's right hand. Ekalavya cut it off without hesitation. The epic tells the story plainly and leaves the reader to judge the teacher.