Ekalavya’s allegiance to his teacher

Ekalavya was a young prince of Nishada, a hunter tribe. He wanted to become a great warrior by learning the skills from Dronacharya, the teacher of the Pandavas and the Kauravas. He approached Dronacharya but the latter turned him away as Ekalavya was from a lower caste in the community.

Ekalavya was hurt but did not give up his will to become an archer. He collected the soil on which Dronacharya walked and made an idol out of it. He treated Dronacharya’s idol as the symbolic teacher and perfected himself in archery through several years of practice.

When Dronacharya learned about Ekalavya’s skill, he visited him to know about his Guru. Ekalavya then showed him the idol and said, “You are my Guru.” Dronacharya was worried that Ekalavya would become a better archer than Arjuna, Dronacharya’s favorite student. Therefore, he asked Ekalavya to give his right thumb as Guru Dakshina (teacher’s fee). 

Without any questions asked, Ekalavya chopped his thumb and gave it away to Dronacharya thus forfeiting an opportunity to be a better archer than Arjuna.

Moral: This story teaches about being focused on one’s goal, and respecting the teachers.