Thread by @DefiledGod

-- Thread on Ekalavya --

This is a topic that some nAstikAs bring up - that Drona wronged Ekalavya. I will answer this with AdhyAtmic meanings of the incident as well. The MB is not some story book. It has deep meaning of upAsaNa.

#Hinduism #Mahabharata

https://twitter.com/mynamekarthic_c/status/1306603692813033473?s=19

First, justifying superficial meaning. Ekalavya was not"lower caste" person. He was king of niShAdAs. As a King, he had all eligibility that other Kings would receive. Drona knew he had Asuric mind and would ally with Duryodhana, hence cut his finger off.+

#Hinduism #Ekalavya.

Now, AdhyAtmic meaning. Ekalavya introduces himself:

niShAdAdhipatervIrA hiraNyadhanuShaH sutam droNashiShyaM cha mAM vitta dhanurvedakR^itashramam

[VirAs! I'm master of niShAdAs, sin of Hiranyadhanus. I am also a sishya of Drona and I strive for mastery of bow]+

#Hinduism

Inner meaning: [I, the contemplation of sense objects, am possessor of attachments that are violent (niShAda), Ones with strength or knowledge! I am begotten from knowledge (dhanu) of sense objects that are “gold” as they are objects of desire (hiranyadhanus)...]+

#Mahabharata

[...I am guided by Drona which is “drumamayam” or “wood”, ie, the consideration of insentient body as the self. I strive for mastery of the self (veda) associated with knowledge (dhanu)]. +

#Hinduism #Mahabharata #Ekalavya

Ekalavya” means “That which has that one cut”. Meaning, “That contemplation on sense objects that has the mind cut away from it”.

Drona as guru of Arjuna is the self indifferent to pain and pleasure like a lump of wood (drona - drumamayam), that guides meditating mind (Arjuna)+

Clay image of Drona as guru of Ekalavya is dehAtma Bhrama. Just as clay, inert Drona isn't real, living Drona, the body is not the self. Drona - "drumamayam" - wood
Considering self to be insentient like wood, as body. This guides Ekalavya, thought of sense objects+

#Hindus

This is why Arjuna did not like Ekalavya. Arjuna is the mind meditating on Brahman. How can such mind tolerate contemplation on sense objects? That is why MB says the subduing of Ekalavya released Arjuna from fever:

tato.arjunaH prItamanA babhUva vigatajvaraH

#Mahabharata

Arjuna, who was dear to Drona, was released of his fever (of jealousy) when Ekalavya’s finger was cut. The inner meaning - +

#Hinduism #Mahabharata #Ekalavya #SanatanaDharma

Mind meditating on self, dear to self indifferent to pain & pleasure like a lump of wood (Drona – “drumamayam” or wood), was released of its’ fever of attachments when contemplation on sense objects (Ekalavya) efficacy was removed, symbolized by removing his thumb.+

#Hinduism

However, Ekalavya became nonetheless adept at archery even without his thumb. This means, one can never truly conquer contemplation on sense objects by oneself. Who can do it for you? Only meditation on the Supreme Brahman can (Gita Chapter 2).+

#Hinduism #Mahabharata

And thus, Krishna says in Udyoga Parva,

tamekalavyaM nAma niShAdarAjam . vegenaiva shailamabhihatya jambhaHshete sa kR^iShNena hataH parAsuH
 
Ekalavya, the King of Nishadas, slain by Krishna, lay dead like the Asura Jambha bashed against a mountain.+

#Hinduism #Mahabharata

Ekalavya allied with Duryodhana because the constant contemplation on sense objects (Ekalavya) allies with the belligerent body that fights the self (Duryodhana). And even mind meditating on the self cannot truly uproot Ekalavya. What can? Krishna alone+

#Hinduism #Mahabharata

As the Asura Jambha was destroyed by bashing against a mountain, similarly, meditation on Lord Krishna is the hard, immovable mountain for the Yogi, that contemplation on sense objects bashes itself to pieces against. “shete” – lay dead – meaning, completely numbed.

#Hinduism

Hope this explains every aspect of the Ekalavya incident that resolves all doubts.//

#Hinduism #Mahabharata #SanatanaDharma #Ekalavya