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Thus, those rakshasas with faces of lions, camels and crocodiles, howled about to strike terror into the heart of the prince. But these illusions of rakshasas and jackals, their cries and weapons made no impression upon his senses whose mind was completely given up to the meditation of Govinda.<ref name=":3" />

Thus, those rakshasas with faces of lions, camels and crocodiles, howled about to strike terror into the heart of the prince. But these illusions of rakshasas and jackals, their cries and weapons made no impression upon his senses whose mind was completely given up to the meditation of Govinda.<ref name=":3" />

The son of the monarch of the earth, engrossed by one only idea, beheld uninterruptedly Viṣṇu seated in his soul, and saw no other object.

Therefore, the celestials were greatly disturbed and approached Sri Hari for help. They said,<blockquote>दिने दिने कलालेशौः शशाङ्कः पूर्यते यथा । तथायं तपसा देव प्रयात्यृद्धिमहर्निशम् ।। ३४ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>औत्तानपादितपसा वयमित्थं जनार्दन । भीतास्त्वां शरणं यातास्तपसस्तं निवर्त्तय ।। ३५ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>न विङ्मः किं स शक्रत्वं किं सूर्यत्वमभीप्सति । वित्तापाम्बुपसोमानां साबिलाषः पदे नु किम् ।। ३६ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>''dine dine kalāleśauḥ śaśāṅkaḥ pūryate yathā । tathāyaṁ tapasā deva prayātyr̥ddhimaharniśam ।। 34 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''auttānapāditapasā vayamitthaṁ janārdana । bhītāstvāṁ śaraṇaṁ yātāstapasastaṁ nivarttaya ।। 35 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''na viṅmaḥ kiṁ sa śakratvaṁ kiṁ sūryatvamabhīpsati । vittāpāmbupasomānāṁ sābilāṣaḥ pade nu kim ।। 36 ।।''</blockquote>Meaning: As the moon increases in his orb day by day, so is this boy approaching superhuman power by his devotion. O Janardana, we have been greatly alarmed by the devout austerities of the son of Uttanapada and have taken your refuge; you please desist him from his devout exercises. We do not know whose position he aspires - whether the throne of Shakra (Indra), of the Sun, of the lord of wealth or that of Varuna (the lord of water).  

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 thee 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 Uttānapāda, we have come to thee for succour. Do thou 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 Uttānapāda from persevering in his penance.” Viṣṇu replied to the gods; “The lad desireth 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 ye list, and be no more alarmed: I will put an end to the penance of the boy, whose mind is immersed in deep contemplation.”

Mahavishnu replied that,<blockquote>नेन्द्रत्वं न च सूर्यत्वं नैवाम्बुपधनेशताम् । प्रार्थायत्येष यं कामं तं करोम्यखिलं सुराः ।। ३८ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>यात देवा यथाकामं स्वस्थानं विगतज्वराः । निवर्त्तयाम्यहं बाल तपस्यासक्तमानसम् ।। ३९ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>''nendratvaṁ na ca sūryatvaṁ naivāmbupadhaneśatām । prārthāyatyeṣa yaṁ kāmaṁ taṁ karom‌yakhilaṁ surāḥ ।। 38 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''yāta devā yathākāmaṁ svasthānaṁ vigatajvarāḥ । nivarttayāmyahaṁ bāla tapasyāsaktamānasam ।। 39 ।।''</blockquote>Meaning: He does not aspire to the throne of Indra, nor to the sovereignty of the solar orb, nor to the rank of the lord of riches. I shall soon confer on him, what he desires to have. Removed of your anxiety, you all proceed to your respective quarters - I shall soon desist that boy whose mind is wholly engrossed  with devout meditation.

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 Uttānapāda, be prosperous. Contented with thy devotions, I, the giver of boons, am present. Demand what boon thou desirest. In that thou hast wholly disregarded external objects, and fixed thy thoughts on me, I am well pleased with thee. 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 scimetar, 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. “If,” he exclaimed, “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 Brahmā and to others learned in the Vedas? My heart is overflowing with devotion to thee: oh lord, grant me the faculty worthily to lay mine adorations at thy feet.”

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 Uttānapāda, be prosperous. Contented with thy devotions, I, the giver of boons, am present. Demand what boon thou desirest. In that thou hast wholly disregarded external objects, and fixed thy thoughts on me, I am well pleased with thee. 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 scimetar, 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. “If,” he exclaimed, “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 Brahmā and to others learned in the Vedas? My heart is overflowing with devotion to thee: oh lord, grant me the faculty worthily to lay mine adorations at thy feet.”