The Offering: The Story of Ekalavya and Dronacharya

The Mahabharata is an enduring epic about the ancient Pandava-Kaurava feud over the Kuru throne. Traditionally, the Pandavas people are thought of as the "good side," but there is one story that casts a shadow on that notion: the story of Ekalavya. Ekalavya's skill in archery is said to have possibly rescued the Kauravas from defeat. Ekalavya gave away his most important asset as guru dakshina so that the guru-shishya parampara (teacher-disciple lineage) would not falter. The story begins simply--the tribal prince seeks the tutelage of Guru Dronacharya, only to incite the jealously of Arjun. But the story ends terribly--Narad, the great rishi, who despises lies but loves trouble, is determined to make this story of Ekalavya live on. And it is on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, where the rectification of injustice is sought at all costs, that he chooses to retell the tale.