ध्रुव की कथा

Parāśara continued.—I mentioned to you that the Manu Swāyambhuva had two heroic and pious sons, Priyavrata and Uttānapāda. Of these two the latter had a son, whom he dearly loved, Uttama, by his favourite wife, Suruchi. By his queen, named Sunīti, to whom he was less attached, he also had a son, called Dhruva. Observing his brother Uttama on the lap of his father, as he was seated upon his throne, Dhruva was desirous of ascending to the same place; but, as Suruchi was present, the Rāja did not gratify the desire of his son, respectfully wishing to be taken on his father's knee.

Beholding the child of her rival thus anxious to be placed on his father's lap, and her own son already seated there, Suruchi thus addressed the boy: “Why, child, do you vainly indulge in such presumptuous hopes? You are born from a different mother, and are no son of mine, that you should aspire inconsiderately to a station fit for the excellent Uttama alone. … Do you forget that you are but the offspring of Sunīti?”

The boy, having heard the speech of his step-mother, quitted his father, and repaired, in a passion, to the apartment of his own mother; who, beholding him vexed, took him upon her lap, and, gently smiling, asked him what was the cause of his anger. … Deeply distressed by the narrative of the boy, the humble Sunīti, her eyes dimmed with tears, sighed, and said: … “If you continue to feel hurt at the words of Suruchi, endeavour to augment that religious merit which bestows all good. Be amiable; be pious; be friendly; be assiduous in benevolence to all living creatures. For prosperity descends upon modest worth, as water flows towards low ground.”

Dhruva answered: “Mother, the words that you have addressed to me, for my consolation, find no place in a heart that contumely has broken. I will exert myself to obtain such elevated rank, that it shall be revered by the whole world. … I wish for no other honours than such as my own actions shall acquire, such as even my father has not enjoyed.”

Having thus spoken, Dhruva went forth from his mother's dwelling. He quitted the city, and entered an adjoining thicket, where he beheld seven Munis, sitting upon hides of the black antelope … Dhruva said: “Excellent sages, I wish not for riches; neither do I want dominion. I aspire to such a station as no one before me has attained. Tell me what I must do, to effect this object.” … Marīchi said: “The best of stations is not within the reach of men who fail to propitiate Govinda. Do thou, prince, worship the undecaying (Achyuta).” … “Anything, child, that the mind covets”, exclaimed Vasishṭha, “may be obtained by propitiating Vishṇu,—even though it be the station that is the most excellent in the three worlds.”

The Rishis answered: … “The mind must first be made to forsake all external impressions; and, a man must then fix it steadily on that being in whom the world is. … The prayer that we shall repeat to thee is to be inaudibly recited: ‘Om! Glory to Vāsudeva, whose essence is divine wisdom; whose form is inscrutable, or is manifest as Brahmā, Vishṇu, and Śiva!’ … Do thou constantly repeat this prayer, for the gratification of Govinda.”

The prince, having received these instructions, respectfully saluted the sages, and departed from the forest, fully confiding in the accomplishment of his purposes. He repaired to the holy place, on the banks of the Yamunā, called Madhu or Madhuvana (the grove of Madhu) … At this holy shrine … Dhruva performed penance, as enjoined by Marīchi and the sages. He contemplated Vishṇu, the sovereign of all the gods, seated in himself.

Vishṇu said to Dhruva: “The object of thy devotions has, in truth, been attained, in that thou hast seen me: for the sight of me, young prince, is never unproductive. Ask, therefore, of me what boon thou desirest.” … Dhruva answered: “… I now solicit of the support of the universe an exalted station, superior to all others, and one that shall endure for ever.”

Vishṇu said to him: “The station that thou askest thou shalt obtain … A station shall be assigned to thee, Dhruva, above the three worlds; one in which thou shalt sustain the stars and the planets … To thee shall be granted the duration of a Kalpa. Thy mother, Sunīti, in the orb of a bright star, shall abide near thee for a similar term …”

Thus, the sage Dhruva, having received a boon from Janārdana, the god of gods, and lord of the world, resides in an exalted station.