STORY OF DHRUVA

Svayambhuva Manu had two sons, Priyavrata and Uttanapada. Uttanapada married Suniti and Suruci. Suruci, the younger of the two wives, was an attractive woman and Uttanapada was infatuated with her. One day, the king keeping Uttama, his son, on his lap, was playing with him when Dhruva, his other son horn of Suniti, came running to the father to sit on his father’s lap. Suruci pushed him aside and told him that he did not deserve to sit on the king’s lap as he was not born of her. She sarcastically suggested to him to pray to the Lord and seek his grace to be reborn as her son. Uttanapada observed the arrogant behaviour of Suruci but did not say a word to her.

Dhruva was hurt by the rude words of his step-mother. Crying aloud, he went to his mother. Suniti embraced him affectionately and consoled him. She asked her son to accept the words of his step-mother and not bear any ill-feeling towards her. She told him that the king did not love her and thus Dhruva did not have any place near his father. She asked Dhruva to seek the grace of Lord Narayana through austerities and meditation, as He alone could bring joy in Dhruva ‘s life.

Dhruva resolved to seek the Lord’s grace. He left the palace at once and proceeded to a quiet place. Narada, who knew of Dhruva’s plans, wanted to test him of his resolve, and met him on the way. He discouraged Dhruva from his pursuit by pointing out the difficulty in propitiating the Lord. He added that many great sages had even failed in their attempts to appease the Lord. He cautioned Dhruva of the sufferings involved in the life of austerity arid advised him to be content with whatever the Lord had provided him in this life.

Dhruva was not convinced by Narada’s statements. He told the sage of his firmness in resolve to gain the highest end in life. He asked Narada to guide him in his pursuit. Narada was pleased to see Dhruva’s fortitude and told him to follow the path revealed by his mother. He instructed him on the disciplines he had to observe and initiated him into the chant, “om namo bhagavate vasudevaya”- salutations unto Lord Vasudeva. He also described the form of the Lord for the purpose of contemplation. Dhruva offered his salutations to the sage and left.

As per Narada’s instruction, Dhruva went to Madhuvana, on the banks of River Yamuna near Mathura and spent the next six months in penance and meditation. The Lord decided to bless Dhruva without further delay. Sealed on His vehicle, Garuda, he appeared before Dhruva. The form which Dhruva was meditating upon suddenly vanished and Dhruva opened his eyes. He was amazed to see the beautiful form of the Lord before his very eyes. He gazed at the Lord for a long time. The Lord knew that the child was unable to express his feelings or speak words of praise. He softly touched Dhruva’s cheeks with his conch. At the touch of the conch, Dhruva poured verses extolling the Lord’s glories. He offered his salutations unto the Lord and sought nothing else in his life except the constant remembrance of the Lord.

The Lord knew the purpose of Dhruva’s penance. He promised Dhruva the rulership of the world after Uttanapada and granting him an eternal place in the heavens, disappeared from his sight. After the Lord had left, Dhruva realised that he had not asked the Lord for moksa, the ultimate end in life. He was sad about it, but decided to return to the palace.

After meeting Dhruva, Narada went to Uttanapada’s place. Uttanapada received him with all honours. Seeing the king unhappy, Narada asked him the reasons. Uttanapada then narrated the incident that had occurred with Suruci and Dhruva and repented for his inaction that had caused the child to go to the forest. He was anxious about Dhruva’s condition. The sage assured the king that Dhruva would be protected by the Lord and that he would return glorious when the time was right.

At the end of six months, when Uttanapada came to know about Dhruva’s return, he went to the outskirts of the city with all the members of the family and subjects, and received him with all the royal honours. He embraced Dhruva with great joy and affection and Dhruva prostrated at the feet of his father and his two mothers. After Uttanapada, Dhruva ruled the earth for thirty thousand years. He married Bhrami and Ila. Bhrami had two sons Kalpa and Vatsara while Ila had one son Utkala. At the end of his rule Dhruva renounced the royal life and took to a life of penance again. When it was time to leave this earth, the attendants of Lord Narayana came and led him to the heavens and Dhruva received an eternal place in the heavens.

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