Guru Drona sits beneath a huge tree. One hundred five-princes are standing in front of him.
Guru Drona
Today is your first
day in Gurukul. Discipline, Dedication, and Determination are three qualities
that bring success to you in education.
105 princes
Namaskar Guru
Guru Drona
Now, you may take your
seat
Students sit down on the mat.
Guru Drona stands on an open field. 105 Princes are listening
to him attentively. He points at a tree.
Guru Drona
Look at that tree.
There is a bird on it. Your target is a bird’s eye. Get ready with your bow and
arrow.
Yudhishthir
May I start Guru Drona?
Guru Drona
Yes
Yudhishthir aims at the tree.
Guru Drona
What can you see?
Yudhishthir
I can see that a bird has its nest on the tree. I have to dart so that the nest doesn’t get
hurt.
Guru Drona
Good. But you cannot
be an archer
Yudhishthir walks back to his place, disappointed.
Guru Drona
Now, Bhim, it’s your
turn
Bhim aims at the tree.
Guru Drona
What can you see?
Bhim
that there are lots
of fruits on the tree
Guru Drona
Good. But you cannot
be an archer
Bhim walks back to his place, disappointed.
Guru Drona
Now, Duryodhana, it’s
your turn
Duryodhana aims at the tree.
Guru Drona
What can you see?
Duryodhana
Sir, I can blow away
the whole tree
Guru Drona
You lack humility. You
cannot be an archer
Duryodhana walks back to his place, disappointed.
Guru Drona
Now, Arjun, it’s your
turn
Arjun aims at the tree.
Guru Drona
What can you see?
Arjun
I can only see the bird’s
eye
Guru Drona
Go ahead
Arjun hits the target like a pro.
Pandavas clap. Duryodhana gets angry.
Guru Drona is teaching students. He is sitting beneath a
tree. Karna enters.
Karna
Greetings to the wise
man!
Guru Drona
Bless you
Karna
Guruji, I am here to
become your student. Please teach me archery.
Guru Drona
Are you a royal
child?
Karna
No sir. I am a royal
servant’s son. My father works for Your Majesty Bhishma.
Guru Drona
Sorry, son, I only
teach royals.
Karna
Then you will teach
me
Guru Drona
Why don’t you go to
my teacher, Sage Parshuram? He will surely help.
Karna
Okay. Namaskar
Karna walks away. But Arjun’s arrow walks past him. He, too,
hits a dart at Arjun.
Karna
How dare you
Guru Drona
Please don’t talk
with my students like that.
Arjun
I was practising.
Karna
Don’t act smart. You
wanted to hurt me so that I never learned archery.
Arjun
Great! So be it! One
day, I will show you my practice in Warfield.
Karna
Sure
Karna walks away.
Guru Drona is teaching Arjun. He hits a dart at a bird
flying in the sky. Eklavya enters.
Eklavya
Greetings wise man
Guru Drona
Bless you! Who are
you, son?
Eklavya
I am your student
Guru Dhorna
But I never taught
you
Eklavya
Every day, I hide in
bushes and hear your lecture with Arjun
Guru Dhorna
Great! Can you show
me what you have learned?
Eklavya
Sure
Eklavya aims at a dog, darts arrows around him, and makes
a cage
Guru Drona
Great
Arjun enters and smiles at Eklavya
Guru Drona
Now that you have
learned so much from me, can you give me Guru Dakshina?
Eklavya
Sure
Guru Drona
Present your thumb to
me
Eklavya and Arjun are shocked
Eklavya
Sure Sir
He cuts his thumb and gives it to Guru Dhorna. Arjun is shocked
Guru Dhorna
Eklavya, your
education is over. Now go back to your home
Eklavya cries and leaves.
Moral: Children are like earthen pots. Shape them wisely.
Happy Reading!
Check out Nisha B Thakur's highly appreciated novel, The Unexpected Trail.