The son of Hiranyadhanus, a king of the Nishada tribe, Ekalavya seeks to learn archery from Dronacharya, the royal teacher of the Kuru princes, including the epic's main protagonist Arjuna.

[1] Determined to acquire the skills, Ekalavya goes to the nearby forest, creates a clay replica of Dronacharya, and dedicates himself to rigorous self-practice.

The Harivamsa (c. 450 CE) elaborates on Ekalavya's later life and his role in different events, including the details of his death at the hands of Krishna, which were absent from the Mahabharata's primary narrative.

Author Gurucharan Das interprets Ekalavya's episode in the Mahabharata as reflecting the evolving social order during the epic's composition, when the caste system was taking shape.

While the Mahabharata presents Ekalavya’s unwavering devotion, it also critiques Drona’s harsh demand, portraying it as daruna (terrible) and tarnishing his image.

Das notes that Ekalavya's story serves as a political rallying point for Dalit communities advocating social change.

[10] Additionally, the Ekalavya Award is presented by various state governments, including those of Karnataka, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh, to individuals under the age of 19 for exceptional achievements in sports.