Indian mythology · warrior · self-taught mastery, the guru's price
The tribal prince Drona refused to teach, who mastered archery before a clay image of the guru, and surpassed Arjuna. Drona demanded his right thumb as teacher's fee. He gave it without hesitation.
Refused by Drona for his birth, Ekalavya teaches himself archery before a clay image of the master and surpasses every prince. Drona, protecting Arjuna's supremacy, claims his teacher's fee: the boy's right thumb. Ekalavya cuts it off without a word.