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Govinda, the lord of the world, then touched the son of Uttanapada with the tip of his conch-shell, and immediately the prince, bending low his head, began singing the [[Vishnu Stuti by Dhruva (ध्रुवस्य विष्णुस्तुतिः)|praise of Lord Vishnu]].

Govinda, the lord of the world, then touched the son of Uttanapada with the tip of his conch-shell, and immediately the prince, bending low his head, began singing the [[Vishnu Stuti by Dhruva (ध्रुवस्य विष्णुस्तुतिः)|praise of Lord Vishnu]].

Viṣṇu said to Dhruva; “The object of thy devotions has in truth been attained, in that thou hast seen me; for the sight of me, young prince, is never unproductive. Ask therefore of me what boon thou desirest; for men in whose sight I appear obtain all their wishes.” To this, Dhruva answered; “Lord god of all creatures, who abidest in the hearts of all, how should the wish that I cerish be unknown to thee? I will confess unto thee the hope that my presumptuous heart has entertained; a hope that it would be difficult to gratify, but that nothing is difficult when thou, creator of the world, art pleased. Through thy favour, Indra reigns over the three worlds. The sister-queen of my mother has said to me, loudly and arrogantly, ‘The royal throne is not for one who is not born of me;’ and I now solicit of the support of the universe an exalted station, superior to all others, and one that shall endure for ever.” Viṣṇu said to him; “The station that thou askest thou shalt obtain; for I was satisfied with thee of old in a prior existence. Thou wast formerly a Brahman, whose thoughts were ever devoted to me, ever dutiful to thy parents, and observant of thy duties. In course of time a prince became thy friend, who was in the period of youth, indulged in all sensual pleasures, .and was of handsome appearance and elegant form. Beholding, in consequence of associating with him, his affluence, you formed the desire that you might be subsequently born as the son of a king; and, according to your wish, you obtained a princely birth in the illustrious mansion of Uttānapāda. But that which would have been thought a great boon by others, birth in the race of Svāyambhuva, you have not so considered, and therefore have propitiated me. The man who worships me obtains speedy liberation from life. What is heaven to one whose mind is fixed on me? A station shall be assigned to thee, Dhruva, above the three worlds^[8]; one in which thou shalt sustain the stars and the planets; a station above those of the sun, the moon, Mars, the son of Soma (Mercury), Venus, the son of Sūrya(Saturn), and all the other constellations; above the regions of the seven Ṛṣis, and the divinities who traverse the atmosphere^[9]. Some celestial beings endure for four ages; some for the reign of a Manu: to thee shall be granted the duration of a Kalpa. Thy mother Sunīti, in the orb of a bright star, shall abide near thee for a similar term; and all those who, with minds attentive, shall glorify thee at dawn or at eventide, shall acquire exceeding religious merit.

As Dhruva sang the praise of Mahavishnu, being pleased, the Lord said,<blockquote>तपसस्तु फलं प्राप्तं यदू दृष्टोऽहं त्वया ध्रुव । मदूदर्शनं हि विफलं राजपुत्र न जायते ।। ७६ ।</blockquote><blockquote>वरं वरय तस्मात् त्वं यथाभिमतमात्मनः ।। सर्वं संपद्यते पुंसां मयि दृष्टिपथं गते ।। ७७ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>''tapasastu phalaṁ prāptaṁ yadū dr̥ṣṭo'haṁ tvayā dhruva । madūdarśanaṁ hi viphalaṁ rājaputra na jāyate ।। 76 ।''</blockquote><blockquote>''varaṁ varaya tasmāt tvaṁ yathābhimatamātmanaḥ ।। sarvaṁ saṁpadyate puṁsāṁ mayi dr̥ṣṭipathaṁ gate ।। 77 ।।''</blockquote>Meaning: O Dhruva, your devotion has been crowned with success today since you have beheld me. The sight of me is never devoid of results. Ask therefore, of me, whatever boon you desire. For, whenever I appear before men, all their wishes are satisfied.  

 

Encouraged thus, Dhruva then asked for an exalted station which surpasses all others and is the support of the universe and shall last forever. He says,<blockquote>आधारभूतं जगतः सर्वेषामुत्तमोत्तमम् । प्रार्थयामि प्रभो स्थानं त्वत्प्रसादादतोऽव्ययम् ।। ८२ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>''ādhārabhūtaṁ jagataḥ sarveṣāmuttamottamam । prārthayāmi prabho sthānaṁ tvatprasādādato'vyayam ।। 82 ।।''</blockquote>But that which would have been thought a great boon by others, birth in the race of Svāyambhuva, you have not so considered, and therefore have propitiated me. The man who worships me obtains speedy liberation from life. What is heaven to one whose mind is fixed on me? A station shall be assigned to thee, Dhruva, above the three worlds^[8]; one in which thou shalt sustain the stars and the planets; a station above those of the sun, the moon, Mars, the son of Soma (Mercury), Venus, the son of Sūrya(Saturn), and all the other constellations; above the regions of the seven Ṛṣis, and the divinities who traverse the atmosphere^[9]. Some celestial beings endure for four ages; some for the reign of a Manu: to thee shall be granted the duration of a Kalpa. Thy mother Sunīti, in the orb of a bright star, shall abide near thee for a similar term; and all those who, with minds attentive, shall glorify thee at dawn or at eventide, shall acquire exceeding religious merit.

Thus the sage Dhruva, having received a boon from Janārddana, the god of gods, and lord of the world, resides in an exalted station. Beholding his glory, Uśanas, the preceptor of the gods and demons, repeated these verses: ”Wonderful is the efficacy of this penance, marvellous is its reward, that the seven Ṛṣis should be preceded by Dhruva. This too is the pious Sunīti, his parent, who is called Sūnritā^[10]." Who can celebrate her greatness, who, having given birth to Dhruva, has become the asylum of the three worlds, enjoying to all future time an elevated station, a station eminent above all? He who shall worthily describe the ascent into the sky of Dhruva, for ever shall be freed from all sin, and enjoy the heaven of Indra. Whatever be his dignity, whether upon earth or in heaven, he shall never fall from it, but shall long enjoy life, possessed of every blessing^[11].

Thus the sage Dhruva, having received a boon from Janārddana, the god of gods, and lord of the world, resides in an exalted station. Beholding his glory, Uśanas, the preceptor of the gods and demons, repeated these verses: ”Wonderful is the efficacy of this penance, marvellous is its reward, that the seven Ṛṣis should be preceded by Dhruva. This too is the pious Sunīti, his parent, who is called Sūnritā^[10]." Who can celebrate her greatness, who, having given birth to Dhruva, has become the asylum of the three worlds, enjoying to all future time an elevated station, a station eminent above all? He who shall worthily describe the ascent into the sky of Dhruva, for ever shall be freed from all sin, and enjoy the heaven of Indra. Whatever be his dignity, whether upon earth or in heaven, he shall never fall from it, but shall long enjoy life, possessed of every blessing^[11].

Chapter 13 - Posterity of Dhruva

Chapter 13 - Posterity of Dhruva