Serious Gurudakshina

[Guest guest]

Gurudakshina 

By Manju Gupta 

Eklavya was a young low-caste boy who lived near the hermitage of 

Dronacharya. He was very keen to learn archery from Dronacharya but 

his mother tried her best to desist her son from doing so because 

she knew that Dronacharya would never accept a low-caste as his 

disciple and teach him archery. 

 

But Eklavya, with his strong determination, was not the one to give 

up. He installed a statue of Dronacharya, moulded out of clay, near 

the hermitage and regularly practiced archery. By and by, he became 

an expert archer. 

 

One day, Dronacharya and Arjuna happened to pass by the spot where 

Eklavya was deeply engrossed in practicing archery. A dog walking 

ahead of Arjuna began barking on reaching the spot near Eklavya's 

hut. Eklavya's concentration got disturbed and he could not take aim 

properly. At first he tried to shoo away the dog, but when it 

continued to bark, Eklavya sealed his mouth shut by shooting arrows 

into it. 

 

Dronacharya was surprised to see such a young boy with such a keen 

aim and drew near Eklavya to ask, "Son, who taught you to shoot with 

such a sharp aim? Tell me the name of your guru". 

 

Eklavya instantly recognised Dronacharya and bent down at his feet 

to reply humbly, "Gurudev, it is all because of you that I have 

become adept in archery. Look there, I have installed your idol to 

which I used to pray and practice archery in the hope that with your 

blessings, I may become an expert". 

 

Dronacharya was obviously pleased to see and hear this, but asked, 

"Since you consider me as your guru, then what about my 

gurudakshina? Won't you give that to me"? 

 

Eklavya replied humbly, "Gurudev, you just have to ask whatever you 

want and I'll try my best to give it to you." 

 

Dronacharya replied, "Son, I want the thumb of your right hand as 

gurudakshina. I hope you will not let me down". 

 

Eklavya, without a crease on his forehead, took out his knife, and 

in one single blow chopped off his right thumb to present it to 

Dronacharya as his gurudakshina. 

 

Dronacharya was very pleased to see the young disciple's devotion 

and blessed him.  

 

Children, can you tell why Dronacharya asked for the thumb and not 

for any other part of Eklavya's body? 

 

This was because Dronacharya feared that Eklavya might become such 

a good archer that he would prove a rival for Arjuna and without his 

right thumb Eklavya was no longer the expert archer he was.  

Play & Learn 

 

Paper Plane 

Material required  

A rectangular piece of paper about 15 cm by 20 cm. 

A pencil. 

Method  

Fold the corners C and D at O. 

Give another fold along the horizontal base running through O. 

Fold again along the dotted lines X and Y as shown in the figure. 

Now fold the point A towards the top along the dotted line. 

Then fold vertically along OA. Then fold along the dotted line. 

Turn it towards the base as shown and now your plane is ready to 

take-off. 

How to play  

Give a little curve to the wings by bending them downwards. 

Throw the plane up in the air and watch it go gliding up and down. 

With a little practice you will learn how to bend the wings so that 

it flies the best. 

Terms of Service.