Ekalavya Sacrifice

Dadi: "Guddu, have you ever wanted something so badly that you were willing to give up everything for it?"

Guddu: "Like when I really wanted that cricket bat?"

Dadi: "*smiles gently* Something much bigger than that, beta. Tonight I'll tell you about Ekalavya - a boy who gave up his greatest gift because of his love for his teacher."

Guddu: "What did he give up?"

Dadi: "Let me start from the beginning. Ekalavya was a prince, but not of a kingdom like Hastinapura. He was the son of the Nishada king - forest people who were looked down upon by the fancy city folk."

Guddu: "That's not fair, Dadi. Why would people look down on them?"

Dadi: "*sighs* In those times, beta, society was very divided. The Nishadas lived in forests, hunted, and were considered of "low birth" by the city people. It was wrong, but that's how things were."

Guddu: "So what did Ekalavya want?"

Dadi: "He wanted to become the greatest archer in the world! He had heard about a famous teacher named Dronacharya who taught the princes of Hastinapura. Young Ekalavya traveled all the way to the city, bowed before Drona, and begged, "Please, Guruji, teach me archery.""

Guddu: "Did Drona teach him?"

Dadi: "*shakes her head sadly* No, beta. Drona refused. He said a forest boy couldn't learn with the princes. And secretly, Drona had promised Arjuna that he would make him the greatest archer ever. Drona saw how talented Ekalavya was and feared he might become even better than Arjuna."

Guddu: "That's so mean! What did Ekalavya do?"

Dadi: "Here's where the story becomes beautiful, beta. Ekalavya went back to his forest, heartbroken but not defeated. He made a clay statue of Dronacharya and placed it in a clearing. Every single day, he would bow to that statue and say, "This is my guru.""

Guddu: "A clay statue? But it couldn't teach him anything!"

Dadi: "Ah, but his devotion was real. He practiced before that statue from dawn to dusk, for years and years. His love for his guru - even one who had rejected him - gave him strength. And you know what? He became an incredible archer, all on his own."

Guddu: "Even without a real teacher?"

Dadi: "Even better than many who had teachers! One day, the princes came hunting in that same forest. Their dog wandered off and found Ekalavya practicing. The dog started barking."

Guddu: "What did Ekalavya do?"

Dadi: "*leans forward* Something unbelievable. He shot seven arrows - one after another, so fast - right into the dog's open mouth. The arrows stuffed the dog's mouth so it couldn't bark... but not a single drop of blood was drawn. The dog was completely unharmed!"

Guddu: "That's impossible!"

Dadi: "That's exactly what Arjuna thought when he saw the dog running back with a mouth full of arrows. "Who could do this?" he wondered. The princes followed the dog and found Ekalavya."

Guddu: "Did Arjuna feel jealous?"

Dadi: "Very much, beta. He went to Drona and complained, "You promised I would be the greatest! But this forest boy is better than me!" Drona felt troubled. He went to see Ekalavya himself."

Guddu: "What happened when Drona came?"

Dadi: "*voice becomes heavy* Ekalavya's face lit up with joy. His guru - the guru he had worshipped for years through a clay statue - was actually here! He ran forward, touched Drona's feet, and said, "I am your humble student, Guruji. Command me, and I will serve you.""

Guddu: "Aw, that's sweet. Was Drona happy?"

Dadi: "*pauses* This is the hard part, beta. Drona said, "If you truly consider me your guru, then give me guru dakshina - the traditional gift a student gives his teacher.""

Guddu: "What did he ask for?"

Dadi: "*quietly* He asked for Ekalavya's right thumb."

Guddu: "*gasps* His thumb?! But... but without a thumb, you can't hold a bow properly!"

Dadi: "Exactly, beta. Without his thumb, Ekalavya could never shoot arrows the same way again. His dream of being the greatest archer would be destroyed."

Guddu: "Did he refuse? He should have refused!"

Dadi: "*shakes her head* Ekalavya didn't hesitate for even one second. With a smile on his face and peace in his heart, he took a knife... and cut off his right thumb. He placed it at Drona's feet and said, "Here is your dakshina, Guruji.""

Guddu: "*quiet for a moment* That's... Dadi, that's so sad."

Dadi: "*wipes her eyes* It is, beta. After that, Ekalavya could never shoot as brilliantly as before. Arjuna became known as the greatest archer, just as Drona had promised."

Guddu: "But was it fair, Dadi? Drona never even taught Ekalavya. Why should he pay guru dakshina?"

Dadi: "*nods slowly* You're asking the right questions. Even the Mahabharata calls Drona's demand "terrible" and "cruel." It wasn't fair. But this story teaches us two things."

Guddu: "What two things?"

Dadi: "First, it shows us what true devotion looks like. Ekalavya loved his guru so much that he was willing to sacrifice everything. His devotion was pure, even if the guru was not worthy of it. Second, it shows us how wrong it is to judge people by where they come from. Ekalavya was rejected because he was a forest boy, not because he lacked talent."

Guddu: "I don't like Drona, Dadi. He was unfair."

Dadi: "Many people feel that way, beta. But here's something interesting - Ekalavya didn't become bitter. He went on to become a respected king of his people. He attended important ceremonies. He lived with dignity."

Guddu: "Even after losing his thumb?"

Dadi: "Even after. Because beta, his greatness wasn't just in his archery. It was in his character - his dedication, his ability to keep going even when life was unfair. Today, Ekalavya is remembered as a hero, while many have forgotten the princes who looked down on him."

Guddu: "I'll remember him, Dadi. And I'll never look down on anyone just because they're different."

Dadi: "*hugs him tightly* That's my good boy. That's exactly what Ekalavya would have wanted you to learn."