Apasmāra

When Drona was teaching martial arts to the Kaurava princes, princes from many countries flocked to him. One of them was Ekalavya, son of Hiranyadhanus, King of the Nishadas. Since the Nishadas were of a mixed race, they were considered to be of a lower order in the social hierarchy. Therefore, Drona expressed his inability to accept Ekalavya as his student, in keeping with the conventions observed at that time. Drona refused to accept him. After bowing at Drona's feet, Ekalavya went back to the forest, made a clay image of Drona and began to worship it. He practiced with great zeal in front of this deity of Drona, and in due course all the science of weaponry became known to him. One day the Pandavas and the Kauravas set out for the forest on a hunting excursion.They took along a dog for helping them in hunting. The dog strayed away and came to the place where Ekalavya was stationed. Seeing his frightful sight, the dog began to bark. The Nishada prince, wanting to ex...