Dhruva

Once both the boys were playing in the garden. Spotting their doting father sitting on the throne, they rushed forward to sit on the king’s lap. While Uthama sat on his father’s lap, the five-year Dhruva was prevented by Suruchi, who said that only her son had the right to sit on the king’s lap. Dhruva was prevented by Suruchi, who said that only her son had the right to sit on the king’s lap. Dhruva went to the his mother Suneethi and sat weeping. When he started criticising his step-mother for her action, his mother silenced him and said, "Desist from criticising anyone. If you criticise others the defects pointed out by you will come to you. Accept everything as something good." So saying she advised Dhruva to go to the forest and do penance to secure the Grace of Lord Narayana, who was the only hope for the helpless. Dhruva obeyed his mother implicitly and proceeded to the forest without any fear and with full faith in his mother’s words that God was the only refuge for the forlorn. Having noticed this wonderful determination of the young boy who was ready to brave the perils of the forest with firm determination sage Narada appeared before him and tried to dissuade him from undertaking a severe penance to earn the Lord’s Grace. But Dhruva refused to go back and expressed his confidence that he would surely succeed in winning the Lord’s Grace with his mother’s blessings and his unshakable faith. This is the ideal that today’s students should learn. Narada was pleased with the young Dhruva’s firm faith and initiated him in the chanting of the twelve-lettered mantra, "Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya".

Dhruva did intense penance, giving up food and drink, and was reduced to a skeleton. He transcended his Food Sheath (Annamaya Kosa) and his Pranamaya Kosa (Vital Sheath). He was saturated with the Lord’s name, which he chanted with each breath ceaselessly. His mind sheath (Manomaya Kosa) was also dedicated to the Lord, driving away all other thoughts. His entire being was filled with bliss in the contemplation of the Lord. This is another ideal taught by Dhruva to students that meditation must be with total concentration on the Divine Form. Lord Narayana appeared before Dhruva, whose radiance went on intensifying as the Lord was approaching him. Looking at the majestic form of the Cosmic Lord, Dhruva burst into ecstatic praise. He exclaimed, "O Lord! Till now You were in me and You have come out to Grace me. Are You going to leave me?" Dhruva who entered the forest for tapas in order to bring God before him, so that he could win from him a status for his mother and himself equal to that of the chief queen and her son, realised that it was too unworthy a boon to demand from the almighty. He therefore asked for liberation from birth and death and external company of the Lord.

Lord Vishnu, who was astonished at the amazing wisdom of such a young child, patted him on his cheek and asked him to say what boon he wanted. Dhruva said, "Oh Lord, after having Your Darshan and getting Your Grace, I don’t want anything else." The Lord replied, "Dhruva, you undertook this penance with one thought, namely to sit on your father’s lap, but now you speak differently. Your words and action are contrary to your thought. You must go back to your father with My blessings. He will receive you with full affection. You must rule the kingdom and then come to Me." The Lord also assured Dhruva that after ruling the kingdom for a long time he would occupy a most exalted position in the firmament as a star around whom the constellation of the Seven Rishis and other galaxies would revolve.

Dhruva, on his return to the kingdom was received with ceremonial honours by his penitent and joyous father. Dhruva consoled his father by reminding him that all are forms of Narayana. Uthaanapaada entrusted the kingdom to the six-year old Dhruva, saying that a boy who could get the Divine vision and Grace at that tender age, could rule the kingdom. He retired to Skanda Ashrama, seeking realisation of the Divine.

Dhruva ruled for a long time very wisely and well, maintaining justice and peace. When his sojourn in the world came to an end, a celestial chariot came to take him to ‘God’s Abode’. He told the charioteer that God was everywhere and so the question of taking him to god’s place did not arise. So saying, he sat down closing his eyes in meditation and merged in the Divine.

The infinite power of Bhakthi (true devotion to the Lord) must be understood by all. It contains all the six qualities, namely, Bhukthi(Food), Rakthi (Desire), Yukthi (Knowledge of how to love all), Anurakthi (detachment), Virakthi (cessation of desires), and Mukthi (Liberation). When from the root word Bhagawan the root word, "Bhag", is taken and combined with "Kthi" which is common in all the six qualities it becomes "Bhakthi" The story of Dhruva must teach the student the value of determination and devotion to God.