The story of Dhruva

OM! Glory to Vasudeva! Victory be to you, Pundarikaksha; adoration be to you, Vishvabhavana; glory be to you, Hrishikesha, Mahapurusha, and Purvaja.

Dhruva - WikipediaParashara continued,

“I mentioned to you, that the Manu Swayambhuva had two heroic and pious sons, Priyavrata and Uttanapada. Of these two, the latter had a son whom he dearly loved, Uttama, by his favourite wife Suruchi. By his queen, named Suniti, 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 Raja 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. It is true you are the son of the Raja, but I have not given you birth. This regal throne, the seat of the king of kings, is suited to my son only; why should you aspire to its occupation? why idly cherish such lofty ambition, as if you were my son? do you forget that you are but the offspring of Suniti."

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, who had displeased him, and if any one, forgetting the respect due to his father, had behaved ill to him. Dhruva, in reply, repeated to her all that the arrogant Suruchi had said to him in the presence of the king. Deeply distressed by the narrative of the boy, the humble Suniti, her eyes dimmed with tears, sighed, and said,

"Suruchi has rightly spoken; Your, child, is an unhappy fate: those who are born to fortune are not liable to the insults of their rivals. Yet be not afflicted, my child, for who shall efface what you have formerly done, or shall assign to you what you have left undone. The regal throne, the umbrella of royalty, horses and elephants, are his whose virtues have deserved them: remember this, my son, and be consoled. That the king favours Suruchi is the reward of her merits in a former existence. The name of wife alone belongs to such as I, who have not equal merit. Her son is the progeny of accumulated piety, and is born as Uttama: mine has been born as Dhruva, of inferior moral worth. Therefore, my son, it is not proper for you to grieve; a wise man will be contented with that degree which appertains to him: but 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. Though I be not born of Suruchi, the beloved of the king, you shall behold my glory, who am your son. Let Uttama my brother, her child, possess the throne given to him by my father; 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, which they had taken from off their persons, and spread over the holy kusa grass. Saluting them reverentially, and bowing humbly before then, the prince said,

"Behold in me, venerable men, the son of Uttanapada, born of Suniti. Dissatisfied with the world, I appear before you."

The Rishis replied;

"The son of a king, and but four or five years of age, there can be no reason, child, why you should be dissatisfied with life; you cannot be in want of any thing While the king your father reigns; we cannot imagine that you suffer the pain of separation from the object of your affections; nor do we observe in your person any sign of disease. What is the cause of your discontent? Tell us, if it is known to yourself."

Dhruva then repeated to the Rishis what Suruchi had spoken to him; and when they had heard his story, they said to one another,

"How surprising is the vehemence of the Kshatriya nature, that resentment is cherished even by a child, and he cannot efface from his mind the harsh speeches of a step-mother. Son of a Kshatriya, tell us, if it be agreeable to you, what you have proposed, through dissatisfaction with the world, to accomplish. If you wish our aid in what you have to do, declare it freely, for we perceive that you are desirous to speak."

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; how I may reach an elevation superior to all other dignities."

The Rishis severally thus replied. Marichi said;

"The best of stations is not within the reach of men who fail to propitiate Govinda. Do you, prince, worship the undecaying (Achyuta)."

Atri said;

"He with whom the first of spirits, Janardana, is pleased, obtains imperishable dignity. I declare unto you the truth."

Angiras said;

"If you desire an exalted station, worship that Govinda in whom, immutable and undecaying, all that is, exists."

Pulastya said;

"He who adores the divine Hari, the supreme soul, supreme glory, who is the supreme Brahma, obtains what is difficult of attainment, eternal liberation."

Kratu observed,

"When that Janardana, who in sacrifices is the soul of sacrifice, and who in abstract contemplation is supreme spirit, is pleased, there is nothing man may not acquire."

Pulaha said;

"Indra, having worshipped the lord of the world, obtained the dignity of king of the celestials. Do you adore, pious youth, that Vishnu, the lord of sacrifice."

Vasishtha said,

"Any thing, child, that the mind covets may be obtained by propitiating Vishnu, even though it he the station that is the most excellent in the three worlds."

Dhruva replied to them;

"You have told me, humbly bending before you, what deity is to be propitiated: now inform me what prayer is to he meditated by me, that will offer him gratification. May the great Rishis, looking upon me with favour, instruct me how I am to propitiate the god."

The Rishis answered;

"Prince, you deserve to hear how the adoration of Vishnu has been performed by those who have been devoted to his service. 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. By him whose thoughts are thus concentrated on one only object, and wholly filled by it; whose spirit is firmly under control; the prayer that we shall repeat to you is to be inaudibly recited:

“Om! glory to Vasudeva, whose essence is divine wisdom; whose form is inscrutable, or is manifest as Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.”

This prayer, which was formerly uttered by your grandsire, the Manu Swayambhuva, and propitiated by which, Vishnu conferred upon him the prosperity he desired, and which was unequalled in the three worlds, is to be recited by you. Do you 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 Yamuna, called Madhu or Madhuvana, the grove of Madhu, after the demon of that name, who formerly abided there. Shatrughna (the younger brother of Rama) having slain the Rakshas Lavana, the son of Madhu, founded a city on the spot, which was named Mathura. At this holy shrine, the purifier from all sin, which enjoyed the presence of the sanctifying god of gods, Dhruva performed penance, as enjoined by Marichi and the sages: he contemplated Vishnu, the sovereign of all the gods, seated in himself. While his mind was wholly absorbed in meditation, the mighty Hari, identical with all beings and with all natures, (took possession of his heart.) Vishnu being thus present in his mind, the earth, the supporter of elemental life, could not sustain the weight of the ascetic. As he stood upon his left foot, one hemisphere bent beneath him; and when he stood upon his right, the other half of the earth sank down. When he touched the earth with his toes, it shook with all its mountains, and the rivers and the seas were troubled, and the gods partook of the universal agitation.

The celestials called Yamas, being excessively alarmed, then took counsel with Indra how they should interrupt the devout exercises of Dhruva; and the divine beings termed Kushmand, in company with their king, commenced anxious efforts to distract his meditations. One, assuming the semblance of his mother Suniti, stood weeping before him, and calling in tender accents,

"My son, my son, desist from destroying your strength by this fearful penance. I have gained you, my son, after much anxious hope: you canst not have the cruelty to quit me, helpless, alone, and unprotected, on account of the unkindness of my rival. You are my only refuge; I have no hope but you. What have you, a child but five years old, to do with rigorous penance? Desist from such fearful practices, that yield no beneficial fruit. First comes the season of youthful pastime; and when that is over, it is the time for study: then succeeds the period of worldly enjoyment; and lastly, that of austere devotion. This is your season of pastime, my child. Have you engaged in these practices to put an end to Your existence? Your chief duty is love for me: duties are according to time of life. Lose not yourself in bewildering error: desist from such unrighteous actions. If not, if you will not desist from these austerities, I will terminate my life before you."

But Dhruva, being wholly intent on seeing Vishnu, beheld not his mother weeping in his presence, and calling upon him; and the illusion, crying out, "Fly, fly, my child, the hideous spirits of ill are crowding into this dreadful forest with uplifted weapons," quickly disappeared. Then advanced frightful Rakshasas, wielding terrible arms, and with countenances emitting fiery flame; and nocturnal fiends thronged around the prince, uttering fearful noises, and whirling and tossing their threatening weapons. Hundreds of jackals, from whose mouths gushed flame as they devoured their prey, were howling aloud, to appeal the boy, wholly engrossed by meditation. The goblins called out, "Kill him, kill him; cut him to pieces; eat him, eat him;" and monsters, with the faces of lions and camels and crocodiles, roared and yelled with horrible cries, to terrify the prince. But all these uncouth specters, appalling cries, and threatening weapons, made no impression upon his senses, whose mind was completely intent on Govinda. The son of the monarch of the earth, engrossed by one only idea, beheld uninterruptedly Vishnu seated in his soul, and saw no other object.

All their delusive stratagems being thus foiled, the gods were more perplexed than ever. Alarmed at their discomfiture, and afflicted by the devotions of the boy, they assembled and repaired for succour to Hari, the origin of the world, who is without beginning or end; and thus addressed him:

"God of gods, sovereign of the world, god supreme, and infinite spirit, distressed by the austerities of Dhruva, we have come to you for protection. As the moon increases in his orb day by day, so this youth advances incessantly towards superhuman power by his devotions. Terrified by the ascetic practices of the son of Uttanapada, we have come to you for succour. Do you allay the fervour of his meditations. We know not to what station he aspires: to the throne of Indra, the regency of the solar or lunar sphere, or to the sovereignty of riches or of the deep. Have compassion on us, lord; remove this affliction from Our breasts; divert the son of Uttanapada from persevering in his penance."

Vishnu replied to the gods;

"The lad desires neither the rank of Indra, nor the solar orb, nor the sovereignty of wealth or of the ocean: all that he solicits, I will grant. Return therefore, deities, to your mansions as you list, and be no more alarmed: I will put an end to the penance of the boy, whose mind is immersed in deep contemplation."

The gods, being thus pacified by the supreme, saluted him respectfully and retired, and, preceded by Indra, returned to their habitations: but Hari, who is all things, assuming a shape with four arms, proceeded to Dhruva, being pleased with his identity of nature, and thus addressed him:

"Son of Uttanapada, be prosperous. Contented with your devotions, I, the giver of boons, am present. Demand what boon you desire. In that you have wholly disregarded external objects, and fixed your thoughts on me, I am well pleased with you. Ask, therefore, a suitable reward."

The boy, hearing these words of the god of gods, opened his eyes, and beholding that Hari whom he had before seen in his meditations actually in his presence, bearing in his hands the shell, the discus, the mace, the bow, and scimitar, and crowned with a diadem, the bowed his head down to earth; the hair stood erect on his brow, and his heart was depressed with awe. He reflected how best he should offer thanks to the god of gods; what he could say in his adoration; what words were capable of expressing his praise: and being overwhelmed with perplexity, he had recourse for consolation to the deity. he exclaimed,

"If the lord is contented with my devotions, let this be my reward, that I may know how to praise him as I wish. How can I, a child, pronounce his praises, whose abode is unknown to Brahma and to others learned in the Vedas? My heart is overflowing with devotion to you: Oh lord, grant me the faculty worthily to lay mine adorations at your feet."

While lowly bowing, with his hands uplifted to his forehead, Govinda, the lord of the world, touched the son of Uttanapada with the tip of his conch-shell, and immediately the royal youth, with a countenance sparkling with delight, praised respectfully the imperishable protector of living beings. Dhruva exclaimed,

"I venerate him whose forms are earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intellect, the first element (Ahankara), primeval nature, and the pure, subtle, all-pervading soul, that surpasses nature. Salutation to that spirit that is void of qualities; that is supreme over all the elements and all the objects of sense, over intellect, over nature and spirit. I have taken refuge with that pure form of your, Oh supreme, which is one with Brahma, which is spirit, which transcends all the world. Salutation to that form which, pervading and supporting all, is designated Brahma, unchangeable, and contemplated by religious sages. You are the male with a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet, who traverses the universe, and passes ten inches beyond its contact. Whatever has been, or is to be, that, Purushottama, you are. From you sprang Virat, Swarat, Samrat, and Adhipurusha. The lower, and upper, and middle parts of the earth are not independent of you: from you is all this universe, all that has been, and that shall be: and all this world is in you, assuming this universal form. From you is sacrifice derived, and all oblations, and curds, and ghee, and animals of either class (domestic or wild). From you the Rig-Veda, the Sama, the metres of the Vedas, and the Yajur-Veda are born. Horses, and cows having teeth in one jaw only, proceed from you; and from you come goats, sheep, deer. Brahmans sprang from your mouth; warriors from your arms; Vaishyas from your thighs; and Shudras from your feet. From your eyes come the sun; from your ears, the wind; and from your mind, the moon: the vital airs from your central vein; and fire from your mouth: the sky from your navel; and heaven from your head: the regions from your ears; the earth from your feet. All this world was derived from you. As the wide-spreading Nyagrodha (Indian fig) tree is compressed in a small seed, so, at the time of dissolution, the whole universe is comprehended in you as its germ. As the Nyagrodha germinates from the seed, and becomes first a shoot, and then rises into loftiness, so the created world proceeds from you, and expands into magnitude. As the bark and leaves of the Plantain tree are to be seen in its stem, so you are the stem of the universe, and all things are visible in you. The faculties of the intellect, that are the cause of pleasure and of pain, abide in you as one with all existence; but the sources of pleasure and of pain, singly or blended, do not exist in you, who are exempt from all qualities. Salutation to you, the subtle rudiment, which, being single, becomes manifold, Salutation to you, soul of existent things, identical with the great elements. You, imperishable, are beheld in spiritual knowledge as perceptible objects, as nature, as spirit, as the world, as Brahma, as Manu, by internal contemplation. But you are in all, the element of all; you are all, assuming every form; all is from you, and you are from yourself. I salute you, universal soul: glory be to you. You are one with all things: Oh lord of all, you are present in all things. What can I say unto you? you know all that is in the heart, Oh soul of all, sovereign lord of all creatures, origin of all things. You, who are all beings, know the desires of all creatures. The desire that I cherished has been gratified, lord, by you: my devotions have been crowned with success, in that I have seen you."

Vishnu said to Dhruva;

"The object of your devotions has in truth been attained, in that you have seen me; for the sight of me, young prince, is never unproductive. Ask therefore of me what boon you desire; for men in whose sight I appear obtain all their wishes."

To this, Dhruva answered;

"Lord god of all creatures, who abides in the hearts of all, how should the wish that I cherish be unknown to you? I will confess unto you the hope that my presumptuous heart has entertained; a hope that it would be difficult to gratify, but that nothing is difficult when you, creator of the world, are pleased. Through your favour, Indra reigns over the three worlds. The sister-queen of my mother has said to me, loudly and arrogantly, “The royal throne is not for one who is not born of me;” and I now solicit of the support of the universe an exalted station, superior to all others, and one that shall endure for ever."

Vishnu said to him;

"The station that you ask you shall obtain; for I was satisfied with you of old in a prior existence. You were formerly a Brahman, whose thoughts were ever devoted to me, ever dutiful to your parents, and observant of your duties. In course of time a prince became your friend, who was in the period of youth, indulged in all sensual pleasures, .and was of handsome appearance and elegant form. Beholding, in consequence of associating with him, his affluence, you formed the desire that you might be subsequently born as the son of a king; and, according to your wish, you obtained a princely birth in the illustrious mansion of Uttanapada. But that which would have been thought a great boon by others, birth in the race of Swayambhuva, you have not so considered, and therefore have propitiated me. The man who worships me obtains speedy liberation from life. What is heaven to one whose mind is fixed on me? A station shall be assigned to you, Dhruva, above the three worlds; one in which you shall sustain the stars and the planets; a station above those of the sun, the moon, Mars, the son of Soma (Mercury), Venus, the son of Surya (Saturn), and all the other constellations; above the regions of the seven Rishis, and the divinities who traverse the atmosphere. Some celestial beings endure for four ages; some for the reign of a Manu: to you shall be granted the duration of a Kalpa. Your mother Suniti, in the orb of a bright star, shall abide near you for a similar term; and all those who, with minds attentive, shall glorify you at dawn or at eventide, shall acquire exceeding religious merit.”

Thus the sage Dhruva, having received a boon from Janardana, the god of gods, and lord of the world, resides in an exalted station. Beholding his glory, Ushanas, the preceptor of the gods and demons, repeated these verses:

"Wonderful is the efficacy of this penance, marvellous is its reward, that the seven Rishis should be preceded by Dhruva. This too is the pious Suniti, his parent, who is called Sunita. Who can celebrate her greatness, who, having given birth to Dhruva, has become the asylum of the three worlds, enjoying to all future time an elevated station, a station eminent above all? He who shall worthily describe the ascent into the sky of Dhruva, for ever shall be freed from all sin, and enjoy the heaven of Indra. Whatever be his dignity, whether upon earth or in heaven, he shall never fall from it, but shall long enjoy life, possessed of every blessing.”

The sons of Dhruva, by his wife Shambhu, were Bhavya and Slishti. Suchchaya, the wife of the latter, was the mother of five virtuous sons, Ripu, Ripunjaya, Vipra, Vrikala, and Vrikatejas. The son of Ripu, by Brihati, was the illustrious Chakshusha, who begot the Manu Chakshusha on Pushkarini, of the family of Varuna, the daughter of the venerable patriarch Anaranya. The Manu had, by his wife Navala, the daughter of the patriarch Vairaja, ten noble sons, Uru, Pura, Shatadyumna, Tapaswi, Satyavak, Kavi, Agnishtoma, Atiratra, Sudyumna, and Abhimanyu. The wife of Uru, Agneyi, bore six excellent sons, Anga, Sumanas, Swati, Kratu, Angiras, and Shiva. Anga had, by his wife Sunitha, only one son, named Venna, whose right arm was rubbed by the Rishis, for the purpose of producing from it progeny. From the arm of Vena, thus rubbed, sprang a celebrated monarch, named Prithu, by whom, in olden time, the earth was milked for the advantage of mankind.

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