Drona and Ekalavya: Power, Promise and Epic Duty

The episode of Drona and Ekalavya in the Mahabharata has often been interpreted as a paradigmatic example of caste exclusion in ancient India. While the narrative includes Ekalavya's rejection from Drona's royal gurukul and the controversial demand for his thumb as guru-dakṣiṇā, the textual account itself is brief and open to interpretation. This paper re-examines the episode through two complementary approaches: textual analysis grounded in the epic narrative and contextual reconstruction informed by the political, institutional, and ethical frameworks of ancient warrior society. It argues that while social hierarchy is present in the epic world, Drona's actions reflect a convergence of vow ethics, court patronage, competitive martial culture, and dynastic obligation, rather than a singular ideological motive.