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There are four (at least) noteworthy Guru- Shishya relationships in the MB, each having a decisive effect on the events that occurred in future.
Dronacharya- Arjuna : By far the most famous Guru- Shishya duo. So exemplary was their relationship towards each other that even today we have the Arjuna Awards and the Dronacharya award. Everyone knows about these two and there's not much to add, except that it was Arjuna who was the determining factor in this relationship. Because of his thirst for knowledge, his unflagging practice and his devotion to his chosen field (archery) he had to become Drona's favourite disciple.
Karna- Parashurama : This relationship has been subject of many debates on who was right and who was not. In this particular context, I do hold Karna responsible for the mess he found himself in. While he may have been a tragic figure ( I do accept that he was unlucky in several aspects), in this situation he loses my sympathy. Why? A guru- shishya relationship is sacred and hallowed, based on trust and devotion. When a shishya is accepted by a guru, he unconditionally offers himself at the guru's feet. There's no place for deceit or falsehood. Karna may have had noble intentions when his guru was asleep with his head on his (Karna's) lap, but the whole relationship was based on a lie. And such a lie is bound to come out. Parashurama was outraged not because Karna was not a brahmin- but because he had lied to his Guru. That was unpardonable.
Drona- Eklavya: Probably the most controversial. Why did Drona demand Ekalavya's right thumb as Guru- Dkshina? Because that was not the age of e-learning. Archery was a skill that had to be learnt in controlled and supervised conditions. It could be taught only by a qualified guru. Apart from the usual skill of marksmanship, archery also involved the learning of special mantras by which the archer would be able to summon the powers of the elements. Before learning such mantras, the students were oath bound to use such weapons only under the extraordinary circumstances. Drona might have felt that, in future, there may be many more Ekalavyas, all learning by themselves, not adhering to any system, practicing archery willy - nilly. The carefully crafted science of Archery would become diluted.
I am not defending Drona's actions here. What he did to Ekalavya was blood- curling. No body knows how Ekalavya learnt. Perhaps he was a born prodigy. But because of his exaggerated Guru bhakti, he paid a very heavy price. To the man who never really was his guru.
Krishna- Arjuna: IMO, the best and most ideal Guru- Shishya in MB. What can I say of this duo? At the crucial juncture, when the conches have been blown, when he realizes the enormity of what was about to unfold, when he realizes that...for the first time ever... his Gandhiva had slipped from his hands...Arjuna realizes that he needs help... he says, in all earnestness " shishyate aham sadhi maam tvaam prapannam" (BG II ,7).
Krishna assumes the role of friend, philosopher and guide.
How dear was Arjuna to him is evident when he declares "Pandavanaam Dhananjayaha". And Arjuna's overwhelming gratitude is evident when in the end he admits candidly, "karishye vachanam tava"
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