Sages & Others
Eklavya
एकलव्य
The Self-Taught Archer
Who was Eklavya?
Eklavya (एकलव्य): The Self-Taught Archer, one of the sages and supporting figures in the Mahabharata. A tribal prince who taught himself archery before a clay statue of Drona.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | एकलव्य |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | The Self-Taught Archer |
| Faction | Sages & Others |
| Key traits | Self-taught, Devoted, Sacrificing, Wronged |
| Notable relationships | Guru (in spirit): Drona, Rival: Arjuna |
| Featured in | 7 stories |
About Eklavya
A tribal prince who taught himself archery before a clay statue of Drona. When asked for guru-dakshina, he cut off his thumb - the ultimate sacrifice for a guru who never taught him.
In Their Words
A true guru resides in the heart, not in the flesh.
Eklavya
Traits
- Self-taught
- Devoted
- Sacrificing
- Wronged
Story Appearances
Stories Featuring Eklavya
6 further tales on this site name Eklavya, in canonical reading order.
- A Royal Childhood at HastinapuraPandavas, Kauravas, and the Lessons of Drona
- What the Blind King Was ToldDuryodhana's inventory of the rajasuya, and the quarrel it started
- What Krishna Had Already DoneArjuna asks, and gets a list he did not expect
- The Horse Goes SouthEkalavya's son, and the day Dwaraka grabbed the bridle
- The Death of VasudevaKrishna's Father Outlives Everyone
- Eklavya, King of the NishadasWhat the excluded do with their exclusion
Character Arc
- The RejectionDenied by Drona
- The PracticeTrains alone in forest
- The SacrificeCuts off his thumb
Key Relationships
Places in Eklavya's Story
Drawn from the stories Eklavya appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Sages & Others.