By Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 

Gurudev, in the Mahabharata who was closer to guru, Eklavya or  Arjuna? How did Eklavya get such profound knowledge just with his  Guru’s idol. How is that possible?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar :

'Shraddhavan labhate jnanam matparassamyat indriyaha', (one with faith gains knowledge).

When one has faith, knowledge flows to them. Faith brings the knowledge. Nobody needed to tell Eklavya to surrender, or to have faith, but Arjuna had  to be told. Sri Krishna tells him, 'You better listen to me'.

Krishna had to tell Arjuna, but he did not have to tell Radha, or Yashoda, or  Vidhur. But he had to tell Arjuna to surrender and have faith.

First he says, 'Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese'rjuna tishthati', God is in  everybody’s heart, he is in your heart, take refuge in him.
Then he finally says, 'Mam ekam saranam vraja', (you surrender to me).

Later on he tells him of the three persons, 'He' 'You' and 'I' (first person,  second persons and third person). So in all the three persons, Sri Krishna has taught Arjuna.

It is so beautiful. If you sit and analyze, so much wisdom comes at every  point, that it is amazing.
But he had to tell him, 'Arjun, you better surrender to me', because his mind  was here and there. He didn’t have to tell others.
That is the difference. Nobody had to tell Eklavya, his faith was so strong.