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== सुनितेः उपदेशः ॥ Advice of Suniti ==

== सुनितेः उपदेशः ॥ Advice of Suniti ==

Dhruva, hurt by the unkind words of Suruchi, repaired to his mother's abode. Observing his dejection and understanding the cause behind it, his mother Suniti consoles him with her just advice. Some excerpts from her words are as follows. She says,<blockquote>अन्यजन्मकृतैः पुण्यैः सुरुच्या सुरुचिर्नृपः ।... पुण्योपचयसंपन्नस्तस्याः पुत्रस्तथोत्तमः ।...</blockquote><blockquote>तथापि दुःखं न भवान् कर्तुमर्हसि पुत्रक । यस्य यावत्स तेनैव स्वेन तुष्यति मानवः ॥ १.११.२२ ॥ (Vish. Pura.)<ref name=":2">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%A7 Adhyaya 11].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''anyajanmakr̥taiḥ puṇyaiḥ surucyā surucirnr̥paḥ ।... puṇyopacayasaṁpannastasyāḥ putrastathottamaḥ ।...''</blockquote><blockquote>''tathāpi duḥkhaṁ na bhavān kartumarhasi putraka । yasya yāvatsa tenaiva svena tuṣyati mānavaḥ ॥ 1.11.22 ॥''</blockquote>Meaning: That the raja favours Suruchi is the reward of her merits in a former birth.. her son is the progeny of accumulated piety and is born as Uttama.. Therefore, my child, it is not proper for you to be sorry on this account; a wise man will be contented with that degree which appertains to him.  

Dhruva, hurt by the unkind words of Suruchi, repaired to his mother's abode. Observing his dejection and understanding the cause behind it, his mother Suniti consoles him with her just advice. Some excerpts from her advice are as follows. She says,<blockquote>अन्यजन्मकृतैः पुण्यैः सुरुच्या सुरुचिर्नृपः ।... पुण्योपचयसंपन्नस्तस्याः पुत्रस्तथोत्तमः ।...</blockquote><blockquote>तथापि दुःखं न भवान् कर्तुमर्हसि पुत्रक । यस्य यावत्स तेनैव स्वेन तुष्यति मानवः ॥ १.११.२२ ॥ (Vish. Pura.)<ref name=":2">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%A7 Adhyaya 11].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''anyajanmakr̥taiḥ puṇyaiḥ surucyā surucirnr̥paḥ ।... puṇyopacayasaṁpannastasyāḥ putrastathottamaḥ ।...''</blockquote><blockquote>''tathāpi duḥkhaṁ na bhavān kartumarhasi putraka । yasya yāvatsa tenaiva svena tuṣyati mānavaḥ ॥ 1.11.22 ॥''</blockquote>Meaning: That the raja favours Suruchi is the reward of her merits in a former birth.. her son is the progeny of accumulated piety and is born as Uttama.. Therefore, my child, it is not proper for you to be sorry on this account; a wise man will be contented with that degree which appertains to him.  

She then suggests that if he (Dhruva) is greatly hurt at the words of Suruchi, he should try to amass peity which bestows all good. She further asks him to be good natured, virtuous, friendly, engaged in doing good to all living creatures. For, prosperity descends upon worthy people as water flows towards low ground.<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>यदि ते दुःखमत्यर्थं सुरुच्या वचसाभवत् । तत्पुण्योपचये यत्नं कुरु सर्वफलप्रदे ॥ १.११.२३ ॥ </blockquote><blockquote>सुशीलो भव धर्मात्मा मैत्रः प्राणिहिते रतः । निम्नं यथापः प्रवणाः पात्रमायान्ति सम्पदः ॥ १.११.२४ ॥ (Vish. Pura.)<ref name=":2" /></blockquote><blockquote>''yadi te duḥkhamatyarthaṁ surucyā vacasābhavat । tatpuṇyopacaye yatnaṁ kuru sarvaphalaprade ॥ 1.11.23 ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''suśīlo bhava dharmātmā maitraḥ prāṇihite rataḥ । nimnaṁ yathāpaḥ pravaṇāḥ pātramāyānti sampadaḥ ॥ 1.11.24 ॥''</blockquote>[https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/vishnu-purana-wilson/d/doc115947.html Vishnu Purana] - Chapter 11 - Legend of Dhruva, the son of Uttanapada

She then suggests that if he (Dhruva) is greatly hurt at the words of Suruchi, he should try to amass peity which bestows all good. She further asks him to be good natured, virtuous, friendly and be engaged in doing good to all living creatures. For, prosperity descends upon worthy people as water flows towards low ground.<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>यदि ते दुःखमत्यर्थं सुरुच्या वचसाभवत् । तत्पुण्योपचये यत्नं कुरु सर्वफलप्रदे ॥ १.११.२३ ॥ </blockquote><blockquote>सुशीलो भव धर्मात्मा मैत्रः प्राणिहिते रतः । निम्नं यथापः प्रवणाः पात्रमायान्ति सम्पदः ॥ १.११.२४ ॥ (Vish. Pura.)<ref name=":2" /></blockquote><blockquote>''yadi te duḥkhamatyarthaṁ surucyā vacasābhavat । tatpuṇyopacaye yatnaṁ kuru sarvaphalaprade ॥ 1.11.23 ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''suśīlo bhava dharmātmā maitraḥ prāṇihite rataḥ । nimnaṁ yathāpaḥ pravaṇāḥ pātramāyānti sampadaḥ ॥ 1.11.24 ॥''</blockquote>

Dhruva answered; “Mother, the words that you have addressed to me for my consolation find no place in a heart that contumely has broken. I will exert myself to obtain such elevated rank, that it shall be revered by the whole world. Though I be not born of Suruci, the beloved of the king, you shall behold my glory, who am your son. Let Uttama my brother, her child, possess the throne given to him by my father; I wish for no other honours than such as my own actions shall acquire, such as even my father has not enjoyed.”

== सप्तर्षेः उपदेशः ॥ Advice of the Saptarshis ==

[https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/vishnu-purana-wilson/d/doc115947.html Vishnu Purana] - Chapter 11 - Legend of Dhruva, the son of Uttanapada

Having thus spoken, Dhruva went forth from his mother's dwelling: he quitted the city, and entered an adjoining thicket, where he beheld seven Munis sitting upon hides of the black antelope, which they had taken from off their persons, and spread over the holy kusa grass. Saluting them reverentially, and bowing humbly before then, the prince said, “Behold in me, venerable men, the son of Uttānapāda, born of Sunīti. Dissatisfied with the world, I appear before you.” The Ṛṣis replied; “The son of a king, and but four or five years of age, there can be no reason, child, why you should be dissatisfied with life; you cannot be in want of any thing whilst the king your father reigns; we cannot imagine that you suffer the pain of separation from the object of your affections; nor do we observe in your person any sign of disease. What is the cause of your discontent? Tell us, if it is known to yourself.”

Dhruva, inspite of his mother's advice, was still unsettled by the turn of events and quit the city with a desire to acquire a position that had not been enjoyed by any other. He repaired to a neighboring thicket where he beheld the Saptarshis - Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Kratu, Pulaha and Vasishtha. Having heard the story of Dhruva and understanding his desire to attain the most elavated position, the rshis adviced him as follows:

Dhruva then repeated to the Ṛṣis what Suruci had spoken to him; and when they had heard his story, they said to one another, “How surprising is the vehemence of the Kṣetriya nature, that resentment is cerished even by a child, and he cannot efface from his mind the harsh speeches of a step-mother. Son of a Kṣetriya, tell us, if it be agreeable to thee, what thou hast proposed, through dissatisfaction with the world, to accomplish. If thou wishest our aid in what thou hast to do, declare it freely, for we perceive that thou art desirous to speak.”

Rshi Marichi said,

Dhruva said; “Excellent sages, I wish not for riches, neither do I want dominion: I aspire to such a station as no one before me has attained. Tell me what I must do to effect this object; how I may reach an elevation superior to all other dignities.” The Ṛṣis severally thus replied.—Marīci said; “The best of stations is not within the reach of men who fail to propitiate Govinda. Do thou, prince, worship the undecaying (Achyuta).” Atri said; “He with whom the first of spirits, Janārddana, is pleased, obtains imperishable dignity. I declare unto you the truth.” Aṅgiras said; “If you desire an exalted station, worship that Govinda in whom, immutable and undecaying, all that is, exists.” Pulastya said; “He who adores the divine Hari, the supreme soul, supreme glory, who is the supreme Brahma, obtains what is difficult of attainment, eternal liberation.” “When that Janārddana,” observed Kratu, “who in sacrifices is the soul of sacrifice, and who in abstract contemplation is supreme spirit, is pleased, there is nothing man may not acquire.” Pulaha said; “Indra, having worshipped” the lord of the world, obtained the dignity of king of the celestials. Do thou adore, pious youth, that Viṣṇu, the lord of sacrifice." “Any thing, child, that the mind covets,” exclaimed Vaśiṣṭha, “may be obtained by propitiating Viṣṇu, even though it he the station that is the most excellent in the three worlds.”

 

न हि संप्राप्यते श्रेष्ठं तस्मादाराधयाच्युतम् ॥ १,११.४३ ॥

 

O Prince, none can attain that best of stations who does not propitiate Govinda. Therefore, you should worship Achyuta (undecaying).  

 

Rshi Atri said,

 

 

 

He with whom the foremost of beings, Janardana, is pleased, obtains imperishable dignity. I declare to you this truth.  

 

Rshi Angira said, 

 

 

 

If you desire an exalted station, worship that Govinda in whom, immutable and undecaying, all that is, exists.  

 

Rshi Pulastya said,

 

 

 

Worshipping the divine Hari who is the supreme one, supreme glory and the supreme Brahman, you may attain even the eternal mukti, then what of reaching the most exalted station.

 

Rshi Kratu said,

 

 

तस्मिंस्तुष्टे यदप्राप्यं किन्तदस्ति जनार्दने ॥ १,११.४८ ॥

 

Nothing is difficult to attain if Janardana, who is the yajnapurusha in yajna and the supreme being in abstract contemplation, is pleased.  

 

Rshi Pulaha said,  

 

 

 

You adore that Vishnu, the lord of yajna and the universe, O pious boy, worshipping whom Indra obtained the dignity of a raja of the celestials.

 

Rshi Vasishtha then observed,

 

 

त्रेलोक्यान्तर्गतं स्थानं किमु वत्सोत्तमोत्तमम् ॥ १,११.४९ ॥

 

Any thing, that a man desires, may be obtained in this world by adoring Vishnu. Then what of that exalted position.

Dhruva replied to them; “You have told me, humbly bending before you, what deity is to be propitiated: now inform me what prayer is to he meditated by me, that will offer him gratification. May the great Ṛṣis, looking upon me with favour, instruct me how I am to propitiate the god.” The Ṛṣis answered; “Prince, thou deservest to hear how the adoration of Viṣṇu has been performed by those who have been devoted to his service. The mind must first be made to forsake all external impressions, and a man must then fix it steadily on that being in whom the world is. By him whose thoughts are thus concentrated on one only object, and wholly filled by it; whose spirit is firmly under control; the prayer that we shall repeat to thee is to be inaudibly recited: ‘Om! glory to Vāsudeva, whose essence is divine wisdom; whose form is inscrutable, or is manifest as Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva^[2].’ This prayer, which was formerly uttered by your grandsire, the Manu Svāyambhuva, and propitiated by which, Viṣṇu conferred upon him the prosperity he desired, and which was unequalled in the three worlds, is to be recited by thee. Do thou constantly repeat this prayer, for the gratification of Govinda.”

Dhruva replied to them; “You have told me, humbly bending before you, what deity is to be propitiated: now inform me what prayer is to he meditated by me, that will offer him gratification. May the great Ṛṣis, looking upon me with favour, instruct me how I am to propitiate the god.” The Ṛṣis answered; “Prince, thou deservest to hear how the adoration of Viṣṇu has been performed by those who have been devoted to his service. The mind must first be made to forsake all external impressions, and a man must then fix it steadily on that being in whom the world is. By him whose thoughts are thus concentrated on one only object, and wholly filled by it; whose spirit is firmly under control; the prayer that we shall repeat to thee is to be inaudibly recited: ‘Om! glory to Vāsudeva, whose essence is divine wisdom; whose form is inscrutable, or is manifest as Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva^[2].’ This prayer, which was formerly uttered by your grandsire, the Manu Svāyambhuva, and propitiated by which, Viṣṇu conferred upon him the prosperity he desired, and which was unequalled in the three worlds, is to be recited by thee. Do thou constantly repeat this prayer, for the gratification of Govinda.”