Mb012, Ekalavya, The Tribal Hunter Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

MAHABHARATA

The training went for many days.
Pandavas excelled in many ways.
Among archers, Arjuna came first,
As he was adjudged the one best.

A hunter by name Ekalavya,
He surrendered to Guru Drona,
In his search for a good teacher,
For him to be a great archer.

As he was from no royal blood,
Drona said, "You're no good,
As a tribal hunter you don't need,
An advanced training in deed."

Drona's statue he made of clay,
He worshiped it night and day.
He felt the Guru's very presence,
Thus he did his daily practice.

Archery in his every breath,
Pushed up his hope and faith.
The live-statue in his imagination,
He found it a source of inspiration.

This kind of devotion,
And a deep dedication,
Made him a top archer,
Thro' clay-made teacher.

All the princes one day,
To the forest on their way,
A wild boar at a distance,
They saw it by chance.

Their dog began to bark,
And ran behind its back,
Hit by arrows the dog bled
And the boar far away fled.

"An expert's job it should be
Where is he, we don't see?
How can he go top of me?
Can we allow him a go-free? "

Drona heard this Arjuna's plea,
And went to find who was he?
At Guru's feet down Ekalvya fell,
His side of story he began to tell.

"Gurudakshina I wish to offer
Be it my life, whatever
I wish to repay my debt,
For what I have learnt."

For this prayer of Ekalavya
His fees demanded Drona,
"Your right thumb I want now.
You'll give it to me how? "

Ekalavya spoke not a word.
But he drew his sword.
The right thumb he cut.
At Guru's feet, it he put.

The hunter knew it well,
No more arrows he can pull.
It was a sacrifice unparallel,
That moved in surprise all.