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Having heard the advice of the Saptarshis, Dhruva repaired to the holy place, on the banks of the river  Yamuna, called Madhuvana, the grove of Madhu (named after the demon who formerly resided there) and engaged in penance. In accordance with instruction given by Rshi Marichi and others, he began to contemplate on Vishnu, having his mind perfectly withdrawn from all other thoughts. The great Hari, ever existing in all creatures took possession of his heart. And Vishnu thus, occupying his heart, the earth, the supporter of elemental life, could not sustain his (Dhruva's) weight. When he used to stand upon his left foot, one half of the earth bent beneath him; and when he used to stand upon his right foot, the other half of the earth sank down. And when he used to stand touching the earth with his toes, the whole earth shook with its mountains and rivers. Thereby, the rivers and seas were greatly agitated and being greatly alarmed, even the celestials called as Yamas, in consultation with Indra, began to think of measures to interrupt the austerity of Dhruva.  

Having heard the advice of the Saptarshis, Dhruva repaired to the holy place, on the banks of the river  Yamuna, called Madhuvana, the grove of Madhu (named after the demon who formerly resided there) and engaged in penance. In accordance with instruction given by Rshi Marichi and others, he began to contemplate on Vishnu, having his mind perfectly withdrawn from all other thoughts. The great Hari, ever existing in all creatures took possession of his heart. And Vishnu thus, occupying his heart, the earth, the supporter of elemental life, could not sustain his (Dhruva's) weight. When he used to stand upon his left foot, one half of the earth bent beneath him; and when he used to stand upon his right foot, the other half of the earth sank down. And when he used to stand touching the earth with his toes, the whole earth shook with its mountains and rivers. Thereby, the rivers and seas were greatly agitated and being greatly alarmed, even the celestials called as Yamas, in consultation with Indra, began to think of measures to interrupt the austerity of Dhruva.  

The Kushmandas, in company with Indra, assuming various shapes, actively engaged in distracting Dhruva. One, assuming the shape of his mother Suniti, stood before him with tears in his eyes saying,<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>पुत्रकास्मान्निवर्त्तस्व शरीरव्ययदारुणात् । निर्बन्धतो मया लब्धो बहुभिस्त्वं मनोरथैः ।। १५ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>दीनामेकां परित्यक्तुमनाथां न त्वमर्हसि । सपत्रीवचनाद् वत्स अगतेस्तं गतिर्मम ।। १६ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>क्व च त्वं पञ्चवर्षीयः क्व चैतद् दारुणां तपः । निवर्त्त्यतां मनः कष्टान्निर्वन्धात् फलार्वाज्जतात ।। १७ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>कालः क्रीड़नकानां ते तदन्तेऽध्ययनस्य च । ततः समस्तभोगानां तदन्ते चेष्यते तपः ।। १८ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>कालक्रीड़नकाना यस्तव बालस्य पुत्रक । तस्मिंस्त्वमित्थं तपसि किं नाशायात्मनो रतः ।। १९ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>मत्प्रीतिः परमो धर्म्मो वयोऽवर्त्तास्मादधर्मतः ।। २० ।।</blockquote><blockquote>परित्यजति वत्साद्य यद्यतन्न भवांस्तपः । त्यक्ष्याम्यहमपि प्राणांस्ततो वै पश्यतस्तव ।। २१ ।।<ref>Vishnu Purana, Prathama Amsha, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 12].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''putrakāsmānnivarttasva śarīravyayadāruṇāt । nirbandhato mayā labdho bahubhistvaṁ manorathaiḥ ।। 15 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''dīnāmekāṁ parityaktumanāthāṁ na tvamarhasi । sapatrīvacanād vatsa agatestaṁ gatirmama ।। 16 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''kva ca tvaṁ pañcavarṣīyaḥ kva caitad dāruṇāṁ tapaḥ । nivarttyatāṁ manaḥ kaṣṭānnirvandhāt phalārvājjatāta ।। 17 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''kālaḥ krīḍa़nakānāṁ te tadante'dhyayanasya ca । tataḥ samastabhogānāṁ tadante ceṣyate tapaḥ ।। 18 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''kālakrīḍa़nakānā yastava bālasya putraka । tasmiṁstvamitthaṁ tapasi kiṁ nāśāyātmano rataḥ ।। 19 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''matprītiḥ paramo dharmmo vayo'varttāsmādadharmataḥ ।। 20 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''parityajati vatsādya yadyatanna bhavāṁstapaḥ । tyakṣyāmyahamapi prāṇāṁstato vai paśyatastava ।। 21 ।।''</blockquote>Meaning: My son, desist from this penance that is destroying your health. I have, after many troubles gained you and have formed many hopes in you. O child, it does not befit you to foresake me who is helpless, alone and unprotected, at the unkind words of my rival (your stepmother). You are a boy of five years old. Such a hard penance is not for you. Therefore, desist from such fearful practices which are not productive. This is the time of youthful pastime for you, then comes the season for study, then the period of worldly enjoyment and lastly, that of austere devotion. Oh my boy, you are but a child, this is the season of play for you. Then why have you engaged in asceticism to destroy yourself ? Your chief duty consists in your devotion to me now. Engage in such works as it benefits your age and circumstance. Do not be guided by bewildering error and desist from such unrighteous actions. If you don't renounce these devout austerities today, I will terminate my life in front of you.

The Kushmandas, in company with Indra, assuming various shapes, actively engaged in distracting Dhruva. One, assuming the shape of his mother Suniti, stood before him with tears in his eyes saying,<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>पुत्रकास्मान्निवर्त्तस्व शरीरव्ययदारुणात् । निर्बन्धतो मया लब्धो बहुभिस्त्वं मनोरथैः ।। १५ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>दीनामेकां परित्यक्तुमनाथां न त्वमर्हसि । सपत्रीवचनाद् वत्स अगतेस्तं गतिर्मम ।। १६ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>क्व च त्वं पञ्चवर्षीयः क्व चैतद् दारुणां तपः । निवर्त्त्यतां मनः कष्टान्निर्वन्धात् फलार्वाज्जतात ।। १७ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>कालः क्रीड़नकानां ते तदन्तेऽध्ययनस्य च । ततः समस्तभोगानां तदन्ते चेष्यते तपः ।। १८ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>कालक्रीड़नकाना यस्तव बालस्य पुत्रक । तस्मिंस्त्वमित्थं तपसि किं नाशायात्मनो रतः ।। १९ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>मत्प्रीतिः परमो धर्म्मो वयोऽवर्त्तास्मादधर्मतः ।। २० ।।</blockquote><blockquote>परित्यजति वत्साद्य यद्यतन्न भवांस्तपः । त्यक्ष्याम्यहमपि प्राणांस्ततो वै पश्यतस्तव ।। २१ ।।<ref name=":3">Vishnu Purana, Prathama Amsha, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 12].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''putrakāsmānnivarttasva śarīravyayadāruṇāt । nirbandhato mayā labdho bahubhistvaṁ manorathaiḥ ।। 15 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''dīnāmekāṁ parityaktumanāthāṁ na tvamarhasi । sapatrīvacanād vatsa agatestaṁ gatirmama ।। 16 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''kva ca tvaṁ pañcavarṣīyaḥ kva caitad dāruṇāṁ tapaḥ । nivarttyatāṁ manaḥ kaṣṭānnirvandhāt phalārvājjatāta ।। 17 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''kālaḥ krīḍa़nakānāṁ te tadante'dhyayanasya ca । tataḥ samastabhogānāṁ tadante ceṣyate tapaḥ ।। 18 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''kālakrīḍa़nakānā yastava bālasya putraka । tasmiṁstvamitthaṁ tapasi kiṁ nāśāyātmano rataḥ ।। 19 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''matprītiḥ paramo dharmmo vayo'varttāsmādadharmataḥ ।। 20 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''parityajati vatsādya yadyatanna bhavāṁstapaḥ । tyakṣyāmyahamapi prāṇāṁstato vai paśyatastava ।। 21 ।।''</blockquote>Meaning: My son, desist from this penance that is destroying your health. I have, after many troubles gained you and have formed many hopes in you. O child, it does not befit you to foresake me who is helpless, alone and unprotected, at the unkind words of my rival (your stepmother). You are a boy of five years old. Such a hard penance is not for you. Therefore, desist from such fearful practices which are not productive. This is the time of youthful pastime for you, then comes the season for study, then the period of worldly enjoyment and lastly, that of austere devotion. Oh my boy, you are but a child, this is the season of play for you. Then why have you engaged in asceticism to destroy yourself ? Your chief duty consists in your devotion to me now. Engage in such works as it benefits your age and circumstance. Do not be guided by bewildering error and desist from such unrighteous actions. If you don't renounce these devout austerities today, I will terminate my life in front of you.

However, Dhruva, being wholly intent upon seeing Vishnu, did not behold his mother weeping.<ref name=":1" />

However, Dhruva, being wholly intent upon seeing Vishnu, did not behold his mother weeping.

calling upon him; and the illusion, crying out, “Fly, fly, my child, the hideous spirits of ill are crowding into this dreadful forest with uplifted weapons,” quickly disappeared. Then advanced frightful Rākṣasas, wielding terrible arms, and with countenances emitting fiery flame; and nocturnal fiends thronged around the prince, uttering fearful noises, and whirling and tossing their threatening weapons. Hundreds of jackals, from whose mouths gushed flame^[1] as they devoured their prey, were howling aloud, to appal the boy, wholly engrossed by meditation. The goblins called out, “Kill him, kill him; cut him to pieces; eat him, eat him;” and monsters, with the faces of lions and camels and crocodiles, roared and yelled with horrible cries, to terrify the prince. But all these uncouth spectres, appalling cries, and threatening weapons, made no impression upon his senses, whose mind was completely intent on Govinda. 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.

Then came the rakshasas wielding terrible arms, and with countenances emitting fiery flame; and hundreds of jackals from whose mouths gushed out flame. The rakshasas cried out saying,<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>हन्यतां हन्यतामेष छिद्यतां छिद्यतामयम् । भक्ष्यतां भक्ष्यताम् ...<ref name=":3" /></blockquote><blockquote>''hanyatāṁ hanyatāmeṣa chidyatāṁ chidyatāmayam । bhakṣyatāṁ bhakṣyatām ...''</blockquote>Meaning: Kill him, kill him; cut him to pieces; eat him, eat him ...

 

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.

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.”

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.”