Dhruva is a lesson of surrendering all worries, problems of a person to the divine. Dhruva is the story of a small boy mentioned in the Vishnu Purana.

Birth and Parentage of Dhurva
Dhruva was the grandson of King Manu, who is the first human being according to the Vishnu Purana. Manu’s son is King Uttaanapada. Uttanapada had two wives namely Suniti and Suruchi. Suniti was the first wife of Uttanapada while Suruchi was the second wife of the king. Dhruva was the son of Suniti and he had a younger brother called Uttam who was the son of Suruchi.
Uttanapada used to love Suruchi more than Suniti as Suniti is the daughter of a tribal chief and Suruchi is the daughter of a rich king. Suruchi was jealous of Dhruva as he was the elder son and he had the right to heir the throne after Uttaanapada but not Uttam. Under her influence and taking advantage of the love the king had towards her beauty, she ordered Suniti and Dhruva to stay away from the king and banished them from the palace.

The Story
Now, Suniti and Dhruv stayed outside the kingdom in a small mud hut near the forest. Suniti always told stories about Narayana – none other than Lord Vishnu. One day, Dhruva went to the palace and he spotted Uttam sitting on Uttanapada i.e. his father’s lap. Suruchi was sitting next to the king and saw Dhruv approaching them. Dhruv asked whether he could sit on his father’s lap. Suruchi stopped and scolded him that only her son can sit on the king’s lap and no one else. Dhruva hoped that his father would stop Suruchi scolding him but king Uttanapada ignored him and continued to play with Uttam. Suruchi couldn’t bear Dhruv’s presence there and she pushed him with all her might. Suruchi exclaimed that Suniti tells Dhruva stories about God and asked him to sit on God’s lap. Dhruva went home to his mother crying and narrated the whole story. Suniti consoled him and explained that God would help whoever is in need and will eliminate all evil also. She conveyed that everything is possible with the grace of Lord Narayana. Dhruva was always fascinated by the stories of Lord Vishnu, one of the Trimurti who is considered to be the preserver of the world whereas the other two Brahma and Shiva and considered to be the creators and destroyer. Dhruva then decided that he would sit on Narayana’s lap as told by Suruchi in the palace. Suniti was shocked to hear these words from Dhruva and had no answer to the statements by Dhruva. She can’t say no as that would have reduced the devotion in her son and she couldn’t even say yes as it would take a long time and requires several sacrifices to have a glimpse of the Lord himself. She was struck and no words were coming out. She then explains that reaching out to the lord is not an easy task and one has to do austerity and penance for several years and years and explained Dhruva that is how various sages were gifted the presence of almighty due to their intense devotion physically and mentally. Dhruva after hearing those words from the mother didn’t feel scared or sad or hopeless about meeting the lord but he felt more determined that he is ready to do anything to meet Lord Narayana.

Conversation with Narada
Dhruva then told his mom that nothing would happen to him and he took his mother’s blessings and left towards the deep woods. He walked very deep into the forest without food and water for numerous days and nights. Dhruva was shouting “Narayana! Vasudeva!” for the Lord to hear. Dhruva started to enquire even various animals about the presence of Narayana. Sage Narada, who is considered to be the greatest devotee of Narayana hears the cry of the 5-year-old. He goes in search of Dhruva listening to the voice and spots him. Narada tries to test the boy of his earnestness. He advised Dhruva to go back to his place and this forest is not for kids and wild animals could eat him up. He also told Dhruva that his is the age to enjoy life and childhood and one can meditate later after he/ she completes all their respective duties of life. So, Narada insisted Dhruva to return back to his mother but Dhruva upon hearing Narada’s words became more hesitant and determined to meet the Lord. Narada understanding Dhruva’s devotion teaches him the Dvaadashakshara mantra – “OM NAMO BHAGAVATHE VASUDEVAYA!!”. He told Dhruva to constantly chant this mantra and he told to feel the presence of the lord entirely. Narada directed Dhruva to meditate at Madhuvanam. Dhruva at the beginning found it tough to concentrate but he got himself into rigorous penance. He enjoyed the process of meditation and thinking of the lord each and every second. Dhruva went to an extent of sipping water once in 9 days. Months passed by and Dhruva was getting deeper and deeper into meditation. Later, he himself totally cut his consciousness of the outer world. His only thought was Narayana and the only words coming out were “OM NAMO BHAGAVATHE VASUDEVAYA!!”. Later he stopped all movements in his body and started to meditate by standing on a single foot. His penance was so strong that at a moment, all the three worlds began to shake. The purana also mentioned that the earth became tilted at the point where Dhruva put his foot to the ground.

Lord Vishnu & Dhruva
Finally looking at the devotion of the small boy, Lord Vishnu was pleased by the penance, meditation and devotion of the young boy and he decided to please Dhruva by satisfying his desire. Then, Lord Vishnu sat abode his vehicle Garuda, the eagle, and landed in Earth in front of Dhruva. Lord Vishnu requested Dhruva to open his eyes and it was Narayana himself requesting him to open the eyes. Dhruva was amazed by the sight of Narayana or Lord Vishnu and the sparkles around the lord dazzled the sight of Dhruva. Dhruva was enchanted looking at the beauty of the Lord he meditated for years. Stuck by the resplendence, Dhruva wasn’t able to utter a word and was taken aback totally. Then Lord Vishnu touched Dhruva’s right cheek with his mighty conch shell called Panchajanya. Then out poured a beautiful poem in the praise of the Lord by Dhruva in 12 verses. This hence was known as Dhruva Stuti. The Dhruva Stuti is given below with meaning attached to each verse for better understanding.

1.Yontha pravisya mama vacham imam prasuptham ,
SAjeevathyakhila Shakthi dhara swadhamna,
Anyamscha hastha charanasrvana thwa gadheen,
Pranan namo bhagawathe purushaya thubhyam,

I salute the glorious God who is the Purusha,
Who has entered within me and made me speak,
While I was not in a position to speak all along,
And by entering with in me awakened,
My hands, feet , ears, sense of touch and so on.

2.Yekasthvameva Bhagwan nidham athma shakthya,
Mayakhyayoru gunaya mahaddhya sesham ,
Srushtanuvisaya purushasdad guneshu,
Naneva dharushu vibhava suvadvibhasi.

Though you are the one who by use of the power of the soul.,
Through Maya expressed through the three gunas,
Have evolved the great principle of cosmic intelligence,
Thus creating and entering in to the diverse forms,
You appear as many , like the fire appearing,
Diverse when it burns in different pieces of wood.

3.Thwad dathaya vayuna yedhamachasta viswam,
Suptha prabuddha iva nadha bhavad prapanna,
Thasyapa vargya saranam thava pada moolam
Vismaryathe krutha vidha kadam aartha bandho.

Due to the power of vision that was given by you,
Lord Brahma saw the universe as the one who woke up from sleep,
Oh friend of those who are suffering , how can one forget ,
Your feet which is the resort of even the most liberated souls.
4.Noonam vimushta mathya sthava maayaya they,
Ye thwam bhavapya vimokshanam anya hetho,
Archanthi kalpaka tharum kuna popa bhogyam,
Icchanthi yath sprasajam nisayai api nrunaam.

Now there are some people who worship you,
Whose mind is completely covered by illusion,
And instead of wishing for deliverance from birth and death,
They worship you , who is like a wish giving tree,
For other purposes like the material pleasures,
Which can be even received in the dark hell.

5.Taa nivruthis thanu abhrathaam thava pada pathma,
Dhyanad bhava Jnana katha sravanena vaa syaath,
Sa brahmani swa mahiminyapi nadhaa maa bhooth,
Kim thvanth akaas uilulithath pathathamm vimanath.

The bliss that the beings get through meditation of your lotus feet,
And that got by listening to the wise stories about you , by the devotees,
Is not equal to the direct experience of Brahman, , Oh my lord,
And so how can it be enjoyed by those who are hurled,
From their aerial cars by the sword of death.

6.Bhakthim muhu pravaha thathaam thwayi may prasango,
Bhooyad anantha mahathaam amala sayaanaam,
Yenagna solbana muruvyasanam bhavabdheem,
Neshye bhavad guna kathamrutha pana mathaa.

Oh God who is infinite , let me enjoy the company ,
Of the great devotees of yours who have a pure heart,
So that with their help, I can cross the ocean of birth and death,
By becoming intoxicated by hearing your nectar like stories.
7.Thena samanyathitharaam priyam isha marthyam,
Ye chaanvada sutha suhrud graham vitha dhaaraa,
Ye thwabhja nabha bhavadheeyada aravinda,
Sougandha lubdha hrudayeshu krutha prasangaa.

Those of the men who have made friendship with,
Those whose heart is captivated with
The fragrance of your lotus like feet,
Oh Lord from whose navel a lotus flower had grown,
Would not be bothered either with themselves,
Or with their dear wives, sons , home and friends

8.Tiryang naga dvija sarisrapa deva daithya ,
Marthyadhibhi,parichitham sadasad visesham,
Roopam sthavishtamaja they mahad adhyanekam,
Natha param parama vedhmi na yathra vaad.

Oh birth less one , I only know the great form of yours,
Which is the world of animals, mountains, trees birds,
Reptiles , gods, demons and also humans,
And consisting of the gross as well as the subtle,
Which are brought out by several differing causes,
Though I am not able to know that which is beyond words.

9.Kalpantha yethad akhilam Jatarena graham,
Sethe pumaan swadrug anantha sakhasthadhanke,
Yannabhi Sindhu ruha kanchana loka Padma garbhe,
Dhyumaan bhagawathe pranathosmi thasmai.

At the end of the eons at the time of the deluge,
You are that supreme person who reposes with no one,
Except Lord Anantha beside you and absorbing ,
The entire universe in to your stomach , and lay ,
In the pose of the yogic sleep and from your ,
Navel rises the golden lotus from which Lord Brahma comes out.,
And I bow to you in salutation ,Oh my Lord.

10.Thvam nithya muktha , parisuddha , vibuddha aathma,
Kootastha aadhi purusho bhagawan thryadheesa,
Yad buddhya avasthithi makhandithaya , swadrushtaya,
Drushtaa sthithava adhimkho vyathiriktha aasse.

You are always liberated , pure and all-knowing soul,
You are immutable and primeval person, the god ,
And the god who is the Lord of all the three Gunas,
You have unobstructed vision of different states of mind,
And you appear as Lord Vishnu who takes care ,
And you are very much different from the individual soul.

11.Yasmin virudha gathayo hyanisam pathanthi,
Vidhyadhayo vividha shakthaya anupoorvayath,
Thadruhaa viswa bhavameka manantha maadhyam,
Ananda mathra vikaramaham prapadhye,

You are the fine mixture of opposite qualities,
And in you the powers like knowledge ,
Appear in unbroken succession and you are,
The cause of this universe which is indivisible,
Without any end and without any beginning,
And which is only bliss and I take refuge in you.

12.Sathya seersho hi Bhagwan sthava Pada Padma,
Seesthadhaanu bhajatha purushartha moorthe,
Apyeva marya Bhagwan paripathi dheenaan,
Vaasreva vathsaka manugraham katharosmaan.

Oh God who is the personification of truth , the worshipping,
Of your lotus like feet is the true blessing ,
Oh God who controls the duties and blessings of life,
Oh God , You look after the down trodden,
Like a cow nourishes its calf and bless them..

Being immersed in penance, Dhruva even forgot the objective of his penance and just asked for a life in the memory of the Lord himself from the Lord. Dhruva was merely six and had no personal desire. He asked the lord why he wasn’t allowed to sit on his father’s lap. Then, Lord Vishnu made him sit on his lap and taught him a lot of things making him a scholar. Lord Vishnu then explained that Dhruv could join him only after he completes his duties as a human on Earth. Till then Dhruva is requested by the lord to rule the kingdom keeping all his subjects happy and see that they face no trouble. Lord Vishnu also guaranteed that after leading the life of a human being, Dhruva shall continue to exist in the form of a nakshatra(star) even after his life on Earth comes to an end. Thus, the Lord blessed his ardent devotee with the power of being immortal as an immovable Nakshatra, that we now call the Pole Star.

Uttanapada realising his mistake and knowing that his son met the Lord himself. Dhruva was provided a very warm welcome in the kingdom and was crowned king at the age of six itself and forgave her step mother Suruchi and lived his life on Earth as a great human setting an example for others and after his life on Earth, he is now the Dhruva Tara or the Pole star, the most shining star in Earth’s sky and also provides direction for any sailor on the sea.

Jyotsna A

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