Shloka 58
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 132 — Duryodhana’s Instructions to Purocana at Vāraṇāvata
Lākṣāgṛha Planning
तथैव हृष्टवदनस्तथैवादीनमानस: । छित्त्वाविचार्य तं प्रादाद् द्रोणायाड्गुछ्ठमात्मन:
tathaiva hṛṣṭavadanastathaivādīnamānasaḥ | chittvāvicārya taṃ prādād droṇāyāṅguṣṭhamātmanaḥ ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。まったくそのとおり、同じく朗らかな顔、同じく乱れぬ寛大な心のまま、エーカラヴィヤは思案に立ち止まることなく自らの親指を切り落とし、ドローナに差し出した。かくして彼は誓約を守り、約束への忠実と師への敬意を身の損失に勝らせた。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of keeping one’s pledge and the intensity of guru-bhakti: Ekalavya chooses unwavering fidelity and self-sacrifice over self-interest, illustrating how dharma can demand painful personal cost.
After hearing Droṇa’s harsh demand for guru-dakṣiṇā, Ekalavya—still smiling and undisturbed—cuts off his own thumb without hesitation and presents it to Droṇa.