Ekalavya

Drona looked expectantly at Ekalavya, the Nishadha prince. Ekalavya immediately took out his hunting knife. The request was for dakshine, the fee owed to his guru. Ekalavya had been unable to accept Drona's first order, but he did not want to be considered at fault for failing to give what his teacher requested.

Ekalavya believed refusal would have a further consequence. He knew that all his knowledge and skills would be lost if he denied Drona's request. The account gives no pause between that thought and the action that followed. The account puts no delay between the knife, the cut and the handover. Without the least hesitation, he cut off his thumb. He then handed it to Drona as the requested fee. The knife, the severed thumb and the offered hand make the exchange visible: Ekalavya did not argue, bargain or withdraw the gift.

Drona took the thumb and thanked the prince. He raised his hand in blessing, then turned and walked quickly away. Arjuna followed him, and the account describes Arjuna as relieved. Ekalavya remained after handing over the thumb, having acted on his belief that refusal would cost him his knowledge and skills. Drona's response was brief. He accepted the offering, gave a blessing and left the scene.

The Mahabharata: The Greatest Spiritual Epic of All Time presents Drona's action as an act that upheld religious principles. It presents Ekalavya's action through the knife, the immediate cut and the handover. The event ends with the teacher's departure and the student's sacrifice complete.