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== कथासारः ॥ Story in Brief ==

== कथासारः ॥ Story in Brief ==

Dhruva was the son of Uttanapada (son of Svayambhuva Manu) by his queen, named Suniti, to whom he was less attached. He had another son named Uttama by his favourite wife Suruchi whom he dearly loved. Once, observing his brother Uttama on his father’s lap, Dhruva was desirous of ascending the same. But as Suruchi was present, the Raja did not gratify the desire of his son. Moreover, he was also unkindly treated by Suruchi.  

Dhruva was the son of Uttanapada by his queen Suniti, to whom he was less attached. While he dearly loved his other son named Uttama by his favourite wife Suruchi. Once, observing his brother Uttama on his father’s lap, Dhruva was desirous of ascending the same. But as Suruchi was present, the Raja did not gratify the desire of his son. Moreover, he was also unkindly treated by Suruchi.  

Dhruva then appeals to his mother, who advises him to engage in pursuing religious merit that bestows all the good. Accordingly, Dhruva quits the city and enters an adjoining thicket, where he meets the Saptarshis. Having heard his story, the rshis recommend him to propitiate Vishnu. Dhruva then commences his penance as enjoined by the Rshis and begins contemplation of Vishnu. As he was wholly absorbed in meditation, Vishnu pervaded his heart and due to his presence in Dhruva, the earth could not sustain the weight of the boy ascetic. And this created a great imbalance. Therefore, the celestials, with the counsel of Indra, made anxious efforts to distract his meditation but were unsuccessful. They then appealed to Vishnu, who allayed their fears, and appeared in front of Dhruva. Being pleased with his devotion, Vishnu granted him a boon and Dhruva asked for worthiness to praise the Lord. The Lord grants his wish and accepts his praise. And at his behest, endows Dhruva with a position superior to all others. And thus, Dhruva is raised to the skies as the pole-star. This story of Dhruva occurs in Chapters 11 and 12 of the Vishnu Purana.

Dhruva then appeals to his mother, who advises him to engage in pursuing religious merit that bestows all the good. Accordingly, Dhruva quits the city and enters an adjoining thicket, where he meets the Saptarshis. Having heard his story, the rshis recommend him to propitiate Vishnu. Dhruva then commences his penance as enjoined by the Rshis and begins contemplation on Vishnu. As he was wholly absorbed in meditation, Vishnu pervaded his heart and due to his presence in Dhruva, the earth could not sustain the weight of the boy ascetic. And this created a great imbalance. Therefore, the celestials, with the counsel of Indra, made anxious efforts to distract his meditation but were unsuccessful. They then appealed to Vishnu, who allayed their fears, and appeared in front of Dhruva. Being pleased with his devotion, Vishnu granted him a boon and Dhruva asked for worthiness to praise the Lord. The Lord grants his wish and accepts his praise. And at his behest, endows Dhruva with a position superior to all others. And thus, Dhruva is raised to the skies as the pole-star. This story of Dhruva occurs in Chapters 11 and 12 of the Vishnu Purana (Part 1).<ref name=":1">Manmath Nath Dutt (1896), [https://archive.org/details/Vishnupurana-English-MnDutt/page/n63 Vishnu Purana], Calcutta.</ref>

== कथाविस्तारः ॥ Details ==

== कथाविस्तारः ॥ Details ==

''Parāśara said'' : The sons of Dhruva, by his wife Śambhu, were Bhavya and Sliṣṭi. Succāyā, the wife of the latter, was the mother of five virtuous sons, Ripu, Ripuñjaya, Vipra, Vrikala, and Vrikatejas. The son of Ripu, by Vrihatī, was the illustrious Cakṣuṣa, who begot the Manu Cākṣuṣa on Puṣkariṇī, of the family of Varuṇa, the daughter of the venerable patriarch Anaraṇya. The Manu had, by his wife Navalā, the daughter of the patriarch Vairāja, ten noble sons, Uru, Pura, Satadyumna, Tapasvī, Satyavāk, Kavi, Agniṣṭoma, Atirātra, Sudyumna, and Abhimanyu. The wife of Uru, Āgneyī, bore six excellent sons, Anga, Sumanas, Svāti, Kratu, Aṅgiras, and Śiva. Anga had, by his wife Sunīthā, only one son, named Veṇa, whose right arm was rubbed by the Ṛṣis, for the purpose of producing from it progeny. From the arm of Veṇa, thus rubbed, sprang a celebrated monarch, named Prithu, by whom, in olden time, the earth was milked for the advantage of mankind^[1].

''Parāśara said'' : The sons of Dhruva, by his wife Śambhu, were Bhavya and Sliṣṭi. Succāyā, the wife of the latter, was the mother of five virtuous sons, Ripu, Ripuñjaya, Vipra, Vrikala, and Vrikatejas. The son of Ripu, by Vrihatī, was the illustrious Cakṣuṣa, who begot the Manu Cākṣuṣa on Puṣkariṇī, of the family of Varuṇa, the daughter of the venerable patriarch Anaraṇya. The Manu had, by his wife Navalā, the daughter of the patriarch Vairāja, ten noble sons, Uru, Pura, Satadyumna, Tapasvī, Satyavāk, Kavi, Agniṣṭoma, Atirātra, Sudyumna, and Abhimanyu. The wife of Uru, Āgneyī, bore six excellent sons, Anga, Sumanas, Svāti, Kratu, Aṅgiras, and Śiva. Anga had, by his wife Sunīthā, only one son, named Veṇa, whose right arm was rubbed by the Ṛṣis, for the purpose of producing from it progeny. From the arm of Veṇa, thus rubbed, sprang a celebrated monarch, named Prithu, by whom, in olden time, the earth was milked for the advantage of mankind^[1].

Notes : The Matsya, Brāhma, and Vāyu Purāṇas speak of but one wife of Uttānapāda, and call her Sunritā: they say also that she had four sons, Apaspati (or Vasu), Ayushmanta, Kīrttimat, and Dhruva. The Bhāgavata, Padma, and Nāradīya have the same account as that of the text. The instructions of the Ṛṣis amount to the performance of the Yoga. External impressions are first to be obviated by particular positions, modes of breathing, &c.: the mind must then be fixed on the object of meditation; this is Dhārana: next comes the meditation, or Dhyāna; and then the Japa, or inaudible repetition of a Mantra, or short prayer; as in the text. The subject of the Yoga is more fully detailed in a subsequent book. The legend of Dhruva is narrated in the Bhāgavata, Padma (Swerga Khaṇḍa), Agni, and Nāradīya, much to the same purport, and partly in the same words, as our text. The Brāhma and its double the Hari Vanśa, the Matsya, and Vāyu merely allude to Dhruva's having been transferred by Brahmā to the skies, in reward of his austerities. <ref>Manmath Nath Dutt (1896), [https://archive.org/details/Vishnupurana-English-MnDutt Vishnu Purana], Calcutta.</ref>

Notes : The Matsya, Brāhma, and Vāyu Purāṇas speak of but one wife of Uttānapāda, and call her Sunritā: they say also that she had four sons, Apaspati (or Vasu), Ayushmanta, Kīrttimat, and Dhruva. The Bhāgavata, Padma, and Nāradīya have the same account as that of the text. The instructions of the Ṛṣis amount to the performance of the Yoga. External impressions are first to be obviated by particular positions, modes of breathing, &c.: the mind must then be fixed on the object of meditation; this is Dhārana: next comes the meditation, or Dhyāna; and then the Japa, or inaudible repetition of a Mantra, or short prayer; as in the text. The subject of the Yoga is more fully detailed in a subsequent book. The legend of Dhruva is narrated in the Bhāgavata, Padma (Swerga Khaṇḍa), Agni, and Nāradīya, much to the same purport, and partly in the same words, as our text. The Brāhma and its double the Hari Vanśa, the Matsya, and Vāyu merely allude to Dhruva's having been transferred by Brahmā to the skies, in reward of his austerities.<ref name=":1" />

== References ==

== References ==