Shloka 52
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 132 — Duryodhana’s Instructions to Purocana at Vāraṇāvata
Lākṣāgṛha Planning
एकलव्यस्तु तं दृष्टवा द्रोणमायान्तमन्तिकात् | अभिगम्योपसंगृहा जगाम शिरसा महीम्,इधर एकलव्यने आचार्य द्रोणको समीप आते देख आगे बढ़कर उनकी अगवानी की और उनके दोनों चरण पकड़कर पृथ्वीपर माथा टेक दिया
ekalavyas tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā droṇam āyāntam antikāt | abhigamyopasaṅgṛhya jagāma śirasā mahīm |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Melihat Droṇa menghampiri dari dekat, Ekalavya melangkah ke hadapan untuk menyambutnya, memegang kedua kaki gurunya dengan penuh hormat, lalu menundukkan kepala hingga menyentuh bumi—tanda kerendahan hati seorang murid dan beratnya ikatan guru–murid yang tidak lama lagi akan diuji oleh persoalan dharma dan keadilan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ideal of reverence toward one’s teacher—approaching respectfully, honoring the guru, and showing humility. In the wider Ekalavya episode, this devotion becomes ethically complex, raising questions about access to education, fairness, and the responsibilities of a teacher within dharma.
As Droṇa comes near, Ekalavya steps forward to welcome him and performs a full gesture of respect by clasping Droṇa’s feet and bowing his head to the ground, presenting himself as a devoted disciple.