Who Killed Ekalavya?

As Hindus and knowledge on Mahabharata you would know who Ekalavya was, but for the benefit of those who are not Hindus or does not know the imminent character in Mahabharata known as Ekalavya. So here is a brief introduction: -

In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Ekalavya is a young prince of the Nishadha tribes, and a member of a low caste, who nevertheless aspires to study archery in the gurukul of Dronacharya. After being rejected by Drona, Ekalavya embarks upon a program of self-study in the presence of a clay image of Drona. He achieves a level of skill equal to that of Arjuna, Drona's favorite and most accomplished pupil. Drona eventually comes to know the same and goes to Ekalavya and demands that Ekalavya turn over his right thumb as a teacher's fee. The loyal Ekalavya cripples himself, and thereby ruins his prospects as an archer, by severing his thumb and giving it to Drona.

I have to admit that a lot of people may wonder that why I am bringing Ekalavya back from the dead. Well, actually I am trying to know who killed him. Why?????  To answer that I am writing an article on Managing Companies in Chaos, and how Leaders react in Chaos. So why Ekalavya…..Well you will have your answers once the article is out.

So getting back to the question. Who Killed Ekalavya?

Wikipedia suggests that Ekalavya worked as a confidant of King Jarasandh. At the time of Rukmini's Swayamvar, he acted as the messenger between Shishupala and Rukmini's father Bhishmaka, at Jarasandh's behest. Bhishmaka decides that Rukmini should marry Shishupala, but instead Rukmini elopes with Krishna. Ekalavya is later killed during the conflict against Jarasandh's army[1][2]. But then another source tells that we was actually killed by Lord Krishna, who hurls a rock against him, in a conflict against Jarasandh's army.

So this does endorses one part of my known belief that Ekalavya was indeed killed by Lord Krishna. But this is one part of it. The other part of “MY Known Story” is that when Drona asks Ekalavya for a deed of gratitude that a student owes his teacher upon the completion of his training. Ekalavya replies that there is nothing he would not give his teacher. Drona asks for Ekalavya's right thumb (as depicted in the picture), knowing that its loss will hamper Ekalavya's ability to pursue archery. The trees and atmosphere around stood still for a minute! Even Arjuna was stunned on listening to the unusual and almost cruel demand of his Guru. To ask for the thumb of an archer was equivalent to almost kill him! Ekalavya, however, cheerfully and without hesitation severs his thumb and hands it to Drona. And Of course this is where the story ends of Ekalavya in the great opera of Mr. B.R. Chopra, on Dordhasan, India only TV channel in 80’s.

My other part of the story (told by a priest in Haridwar narrating this epic) is after giving his right thumb; he started to pursue archery with his left thumb. Within no time he became as effective as he was with his left thumb. Also at the time of Mahabharata he was planned to be inducted into the Army of Kauravas. Once Lord Krishna discovered this and well acquainted about the powers of Ekalavya’s archery, he (Krishna) feared that this could spell doom for the Pandavas. Hence he decided to kill him in disguise.

Now my version does not match with the one given in Wikipedia or any/all given on the search engines accept that he was killed by Lord Krishna. Especially, when the same paragraph is used all over, with few lines about his death, as mentioned above. The is peculiar (as usually the case with many myths) beside every person who’s aware about Mahabharata is aware about Ekalavya, parents consider Ekalavya as a name for their new born, the Name Ekalavya is synonymous with hard work, persistence, dedication, loyalty and so on; but still we don’t know why he was killed? Additionally its more strange that there is nothing much was ever written about his death, including in the epics.

Even the articulation on Wikipedia leaves a lot of questions about its accuracy with its limited verbiage. Of course you may debate the Myth as a whole, what we call as Mahabharata. But even with my decent attempt to find WHO killed Ekalavya I got the answer Lord Krishna but certainly with lack of articulation there is not much substantial evidence to justify it. Equally , with no articulation on WHY, hence its a still a question that needs an answer. As Lord Krishna had (according to the myth) a clear objective on his role in Mahabharata, and who & why he would kill or help someone.

With such an Epic there tend to be questions unanswered like how Lord Krishna died, where the Pandavs went after the war, what happened to the kids of 100 Kauravs, and so on. But the two that stands out for me is one what I am asking, and the other that always attracted me - what happened to the kavaj/kundala of Karan that made him indestructible?

But then first, what I am asking – Who (May be Lord Krishna) & Why Killed Ekalavya? Send me your comments, if any, at shiraz@shirazdatta.com.

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[1] A. D. Athawale. Vastav Darshan of Mahabharat. Continental Book Service, Pune, 1970

[2] Dowson, John (1820-1881). A classical dictionary of Hindu mythology and religion, geography, history, and literature. London: Trübner, 1879 [Reprint, London: Routledge, 1979]. Also available at Encyclopedia for Epics of Ancient India