question_answer

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:

'Proper' Social Roles

Here is a story from the Adi Parvan of the Mahabharata:

Once Drona, a Brahmana who taught archery to the Kuru princes, was approached by Ekalavya, a forest-dwelling mishada (a hunting community). When Drona, who knew the dharma, refused to have him as his pupil, Ekalavya returned to the forest, prepared an image of Drona out of clay, and treating it as his teacher, began to practise on his own. In due course, he acquired great skill in archery. One day, the Kuru princes went hunting and their dog, wandering in the woods, came upon Ekalavya. When the dog smelt the dark mishada wrapped in black deer skin, his body caked with dirt, it began to bark. Annoyed, Ekalvya shot seven arrows into its mouth. When the dog returned to the Pandavas, they were amazed at this superb display of archery. They tracked down Ekalavya, who introduced himself as a pupil of Drona.

Drona had once told his favourite student Arjuna, that he would unrivalled amongst his pupils. Arjuna now reminded Drona about this. Drona approached Ekalavya, who immediately acknowledged and honoured him as his teacher. When Drona demanded his right thumb as his fee, Ekalavya unhesitatingly cut it off and offered it. But thereafter, when he shot with his remaining fingers, he was no longer as fast as he had been before. Thus, Drona kept his word: no one was better than Arjuna.

(i) Why did Drona refuse to have Ekalavya as his pupil?

(ii) How had Drona kept his word given to Arjuna?

(iii) Do you think Drona's behaviour with Ekalavya was justified? If so, give reason.

 

Answer:

(i) Drona, who was a Brahmana and taught archery to the Kuru princes, was approached by Ekalvya, a forest dwelling Nishada (a hunting community) to teach him archery Drona refused to have Ekalavya as his pupil.

(ii) Yes, Drona kept his world given to Arjuna, that he would be unrivalled amongst the pupils. To prove this Drona demanded Eklavyas right thumb as his fee, Eklavya unhesitatingly cut it off and offered it to the guru.

(iii) Drona?s behaviour with Eklavya was justified because he promised to Arjuna to be the best in archery but when he saw Eklavyas he was amazed at the superior display of archery by him. Eklavya will be better archery than Arjuna thus, to keep his promise to Arjuana. Drona demanded the right hand thumb as fee from Ekalavya.