Chapter 6

1. Sri Narada said: O dear Shauuaka, the wise (men of intuitive wisdom) constantly sing the Glories of Sri Vishnu. They contemplate upon Him and mutter His sacred Mantra. Therefore I shall be continuing my discourse of the Transcendental exploits of Bhagavan Sri Narayana, the Wish-yielding Tree for His devotees and you may devoutly listen to it.

2. In ancient time there was a fortunate boy Dhruva by name. He by taking recourse to the chanting of Vishnu Mantra attained an Abode of Eternal Bliss which even during the time of dissolution of the entire universe is not affected. That Abode exists even beyond the Satyaloka of Brahma, the top-most plane within the universe.

There was an emperor Uttanapada by name- He was so powerful that the enemies too felt terror at his name and they touched his feet. The good people under his sovereignity felt as if they are under the protection of God Vishnu, at the same time the wicked persons knew him as lord Shiva in his destructive mood.

4. What I have to say about that glorious emperor Uttanapada who was the object of glorification by all his subjects, nay, even the gods of the heaven end the sages extolled him, His worthiest son Dhruva was a great devotee of Sri Hari. Due to the great accumulated spiritual merit of previous birth’s Sadhana a devoted family is awarded with a Vaishnava son, devoted to Sri Hari.

5. Although the king was ideal and highly religiously disposed yet somehow his second queen Srimati Suniti, who was most sincerely devoted to him could not be so dear to him as his first queen Srimati Suruchi was. It was really very hard for a man dwelling in the family life to become unblemished in all respects. Although king Uttanapada was an ideal king yet his this partial attitude towards his queens actually brought to him bad name though so high was his glory.

6. Anyhow Srimati Suniti had a son through the king Uttanapada and the name of the son was given as Dhruva, but this son also could not get good affection of his farher king Uttanapada. Dhruva was a devotee of Bhagavan Narayana. Suruchi also had a son through the king Uttanapada and the name of the boy was Uttama who became very affectionate to the king.

7, 12. Once while the child Dhruva saw his father fondling Uttama on his lap, he with his innocent mind ran to father and desired to climb on the lap of his father. But as king Uttanapada was having hen-pecked attachment to his queen Suruchi, mother of Uttama; the king being afraid of his queen could not extend his affection to Dhruva. Alas, Suruchi could notice her co-sister’s son Dhruva trying to sit on the lap of the king, she in her inordinate pride, spoke spitefully in the very presence of the king thus, “O imprudent child, how do you deserve to sit on the king’s lap? If you are so covetous you should have done great Sadhana to be born from my womb. Since you are begotten by the king through the womb of my co-sister instead of from my womb you are unfit to do so. As a man although a Brahmin, born at Kikata province the unholy place, never is welcome so also due to your birth from the womb of my co-sister the king cannot love you as is done to my son. As when the fine seed are sown in unholy fields but the yields thereof cannot be used for holy purposes so too although you are born from the seed of the king, my husband but through the unholy womb of my co-sister therefore you are very unfortunate. ‘For, Dhruva’ the lap of the king is the highest position. Therefore one who is born from my womb is only having the fortune to occupy that. Because one who sits on the lap of the king he is the heir-king of the kingdom.”

13, 14. When at the very face of the worshippable king she spoke thus Dhruva felt extremely perturbed by the poignant remarks of his step-mother Suruchi and he heaved angry sighs, he cried aloud, the tears from his angry eyes bathed his breast washing out all the dust, and leaving the place he went to his mother. She took him on her lap and most affectionately enquired about him. Dhruva was still sobbing with puivering lips. After quite some time he told to his mother all about the treatment of his step-mother.

15-18. Scorched by the grief as a creeper wilting before the forestfire she ruminated over the words, of her co-sister, grieved and wept, she heaved a long sigh and composing her sorrowful heart advised her son, “Beloved darling, you need not lament, good may betake you. Don’t entertain any ill-will against your step-mother. Although what Suruchi spoke was true, I bore you and nourished you on the milk of my breast: 1 am the legitimate wife of the king and he begot you through my womb. Most probably 1 ever not worshipped sincerely Narayana, the Supreme for which you being my son could not be so fortunate. So it is our fate, therefore do not entertain any ill-feeling against your step-mother. In our previous births we have not worshipped Sri Nargyana, the Bestower of all fortunes so now we have to suffer and feel destitute. Whatever misfortune will meet us we have to endure them.”

19-20. “No more should any remorse remain in your heart. The king is your respectful father and Suruchi is as equal as myself, your mother. As Sri Parvati due to her penance could secure the fovour of Sri Shiva, so also it might be that due to penance done in her previous birth Srimati Suruchi got this rare privilege to become so favourite to the king. You should be always submissive to the elders and hereby you will ensure longevity of your life. You were born from my womb and so considered unfit to climb on the lap of the king. So better, not aspire after that.”

21. “But if you really aspire after securing a high place where there remains no enemity, then you should propitiate the Paramapurusha Sri Hari. The wise say that it is He Who has assigned in Brahma the Satyaloka and the gods of the heaven got their possessions by propitiating Him only. My darling, better take refuge in Him.”

22. Thus being enlightened by mother, Sri Dhruva got his mind fully composed and said to his mother, ‘Now I have learnt that Sri Hari is the Bestower of boons to His supplicants, therefore today and now itself I shall be following that path for securing His benediction.’

23. ‘Let me supplicate that great God Sri Hari the Lord of the universe and secure His choicest Blessings. Here let my brother Uttama fondly be doted by the king on his lap.’

24-25. ‘Dear mother, you have also significantly pronounced correctly that the lap of the king was not the proper place for me. I am your worthy son, my assigned place is situated above all the celestial beings even. What to speak about the enemies, what even great Tapasvi cannot dream of I shall attain to that Abode by the unreserved blessing of the God. Mother I am proud that I am born to you who guide me on the right path of Blessedness.’

26. Sri Narada said: That child Dhruva, who was indeed most fortunate, so saying took the benediction of his mother by falling prostrate at her feek with a view to propitiating the Supreme Lord Sri Vasudeva and left the capital city of his father.

27. When he reached the outskirt of the capital city he met in a grove the Saptarshis—seven glorious rishis of the legend; The very sight made him so happy that he felt it itself as a great boon to him bestowed by Sri Narayana Himself.

28. He saluted them and to each one of them he submitted his humble prayer. And they too spoke to him saying that Sri Vasudeva, Sri Hari is the only Supreme God to be worshipped and He alone is the Bestower of highest boon. He received spiritual enlightenment from them and proceeded further

29. He started to comtemplate upon Sri Narayana and made his panegyric so saying, ‘Lord Thou art the Originator of Hiranyagarbha. Thou art the Propeller of Prakriti and Thou remainest inconceivable. Thou art Vasudeva, the Sat-chid- ananda Vigraha, I make my obeisances to Thy Lotus Feet.’

30. Thus Sri Dhruva supplicated the Lord with these prayers which reward the supplicant with the fulfilment of his wishes. Reaching the bank of the holy Yamuna at Madhuvan in Vraja circle he commenced his austere sadhana following the foot steps of the glorious munis.

31. Soon he had the reward of his chanting of the Divine Names, his heart became untained and the Exalted Lord Sri Hari with His most bewitching lotus-Eyes appeared in his heart. He became fully absorbed in His contemplation.

32. Suddenly he found that the Lord had disappeared from his vision. But lo, soon he opened his eyes he could see the Lord with His Divine illustrious Transcendental Form gracefully standing before him. He was so overwhelmed with ecstatic joy that he could not know anything else. He became so dovetailed in Him that he could not perceive his own exitsence. He stood mum, even could not extol Him.

33. He was so intoxicated by drinking deep through the cup of his eyes the nectar, that flowed from the very Person of the exalted Lord, he felt nothing else. He transcended from any other worldly feeling.

34. While Dhruva was performing his Tapasya, no obstacle could stand on his path, no misfortune could befall upon him, The opposites of the nature, namely, heat or cold, hunger or thirst could not create any disturbance in his spiritual progress.