Dhruva Charitam (The story of Dhruva)
Sarvathra Govinda Nama Sankeerthanam Govinda Govinda
उत्तानपादनृपतेर्मनुनन्दनस्य
जाया बभूव सुरुचिर्नितरामभीष्टा ।
अन्या सुनीतिरिति भर्तुरनादृता सा
त्वामेव नित्यमगति: शरणं गताऽभूत् ॥१॥
uttaanapaada nR^ipatermanunandanasya
jaayaa babhuuva suruchirnitaraamabhiiShTaa |
anyaa suniitiriti bharturanaadR^itaa saa
tvaameva nityamagatiH sharaNaM gataa(a)bhuut ||1 ||
Dashakam 17 of Narayaneeyam depicts the life of Dhruva, son of Uthanapada who himself is the son of Swayambhuva Manu. King Uttaanpaada, son of Manu, regarded Suruchi as his most beloved wife. His neglect of his other wife, Suneeti, left her with no choice but to turn to the Lord, who is the only one who shields the defenseless and destitute people.
अङ्के पितु: सुरुचिपुत्रकमुत्तमं तं
दृष्ट्वा ध्रुव: किल सुनीतिसुतोऽधिरोक्ष्यन् ।
आचिक्षिपे किल शिशु: सुतरां सुरुच्या
दुस्सन्त्यजा खलु भवद्विमुखैरसूया ॥२॥anke pituH suruchiputrakamuttamaM taM
dR^iShTvaa dhruvaH kila suniitisutO(a)dhirOkshyan |
aachikshipe kila shishuH sutaraaM suruchyaa
dussantyajaa khalu bhavadvimukhairasuuyaa || 2||
In the second Dashakam, Bhattathiri describes how pride, jealousy, and other sins are likely to arise in a mind that lacks devotion to the Lord. Dhruva, the son of Suneeti, tried to sit on his father’s lap just as Uttama, the son of Suruchi, did. Suruchi, however, gave the child a harsh repri mand for his doing. Indeed, jealousy is unavoidable and must be experienced by those who are not devoted to the Lord.
त्वन्मोहिते पितरि पश्यति दारवश्ये
दूरं दुरुक्तिनिहत: स गतो निजाम्बाम् ।
साऽपि स्वकर्मगतिसन्तरणाय पुंसां
त्वत्पादमेव शरणं शिशवे शशंस ॥३॥
tvanmOhite pitari pashyati daaravashye
duuraM duruktinihataH sa gatO nijaambaam |
saa(a)pi svakarmagatisantaraNaaya pumsaaM
tvatpaadameva sharaNaM shishave
shashamsa || 3||
As Suruchi reprimanded little Dhruva, the foolish king, who was under the influence of Maayaa, remained silent. Dhruva went to his own mother Suneeti, feeling hurt by the reprimand, and she told him that the only way to protect himself from the consequences of his past transgressions is to submit to the Lord.
आकर्ण्य सोऽपि भवदर्चननिश्चितात्मा
मानी निरेत्य नगरात् किल पञ्चवर्ष: ।
सन्दृष्टनारदनिवेदितमन्त्रमार्ग-
स्त्वामारराध तपसा मधुकाननान्ते ॥४॥
aakarNya sO(a)pi bhavadarchananishchitaatmaa
maanii niretya nagaraat kila pa~nchavarShaH |
sandR^iShTanaaradaniveditamantramaargastvaamaararaadha
tapasaa madhukaananaante || 4||
After hearing his mother’s words, the self-respecting five-year-old Dhruva made the decision to worship the Lord and left the Kingdom. He performed penance in the Madhuvana forest, worshiping the Lord by reciting the Mantra japa and Mantra, which he had learned from Naarada, who had met him en route.
ताते विषण्णहृदये नगरीं गतेन
श्रीनारदेन परिसान्त्वितचित्तवृत्तौ ।
बालस्त्वदर्पितमना: क्रमवर्धितेन
निन्ये कठोरतपसा किल पञ्चमासान् ॥५॥
taate viShaNNahR^idaye nagariiM gatena
shriinaaradena parisaanitvatachittavR^ittau |
baalastvadarpitamanaaH kramavardhitena
ninye kaThOratapasaa kila pa~nchamaasaan || 5||
The king later expressed regret for his actions, that forced his own son Dhruva to leave the kingdom. Naarada, who had traveled to the Kingdom, soothed and reassured the longing fatherly mind that was full of regretful thoughts. For five months and beyond, Dhruva, who had his sights set on the Lord, kept up his strict penance, making it more intense.
तावत्तपोबलनिरुच्छ्-वसिते दिगन्ते
देवार्थितस्त्वमुदयत्करुणार्द्रचेता: ।
त्वद्रूपचिद्रसनिलीनमते: पुरस्ता-
दाविर्बभूविथ विभो गरुडाधिरूढ: ॥६॥
taavattapObalaniruchChvasite digante
devaarthitastvamudayatkaruNaardrachetaaH |
tvadruupachidrasaniliinamateH purastaadaavirbabhuuvitha
vibhO garuDaadhiruuDhaH || 6||
Oh Lord, All creatures were rendered incapable of breathing as the penance’s intensity increased. Oh Lord, at the request of the Devas, you appeared atop Garuda before Dhruva, who was deeply absorbed in the thoughts of the Supreme Consciousness Bliss that had assumed your form.
त्वद्दर्शनप्रमदभारतरङ्गितं तं
दृग्भ्यां निमग्नमिव रूपरसायने ते ।
तुष्टूषमाणमवगम्य कपोलदेशे
संस्पृष्टवानसि दरेण तथाऽऽदरेण ॥७॥
tvaddarshanapramadabhaaratarangitaM taM
dR^igbhyaaM nimagnamiva ruuparasaayane te |
tuShTuuShamaaNamavagamya kapOladeshe
samspR^iShTavaanasi dareNa tathaa(a)dareNa || 7||
O Lord, Dhruva was engulfed in waves of bliss and ecstasy at your divine sight. Upon losing himself in the ambrosia of your captivating beauty, he was unable to adore you. You put the conch on his cheek tenderly out of love when you realized he was having trouble finding the right words.
तावद्विबोधविमलं प्रणुवन्तमेन-
माभाषथास्त्वमवगम्य तदीयभावम् ।
राज्यं चिरं समनुभूय भजस्व भूय:
सर्वोत्तरं ध्रुव पदं विनिवृत्तिहीनम् ॥८॥
taavadvibOdhavimalaMpraNuvantamenamaabhaa
Shathaastvamavagamya tadiiyabhaavam |
raajyaM chiraM samanubhuuya bhajasva bhuuyaH
sarvOttaraM dhruva padaM vinivR^ittihiinam || 8||
After being endowed with knowledge and mental purity, Dhruva then sang the praise of the Lord with sincerity. Knowing what he had in mind, Lord blessed him to rule the kingdom for long and later attain the loftiest of the states, Moksha from where one does not descend to lower states.
इत्यूचिषि त्वयि गते नृपनन्दनोऽसा-
वानन्दिताखिलजनो नगरीमुपेत: ।
रेमे चिरं भवदनुग्रहपूर्णकाम-
स्ताते गते च वनमादृतराज्यभार: ॥९॥
ityuuchiShitvayigatenR^ipanandanO(a)saa
vaananditaakhilajanO nagariimupetaH |reme
chiraM bhavadanugrahapuurNakaamastaate
gate cha vanamaadR^itaraajyabhaaraH ||9||
Lord disappeared from there after saying this to him and Dhruva, who was a prince, returned to his kingdom with joy, and all the people there celebrated his return. Later, when his father went to Vanaprastha, he became the king with your grace.
He did all the duties as a king and enjoyed a long healthy life thereafter.
यक्षेण देव निहते पुनरुत्तमेऽस्मिन्
यक्षै: स युद्धनिरतो विरतो मनूक्त्या ।
शान्त्या प्रसन्नहृदयाद्धनदादुपेता-
त्त्वद्भक्तिमेव सुदृढामवृणोन्महात्मा ॥१०॥
yaksheNa deva nihate punaruttame(a)smin
yakshaiH sa yuddhaniratO viratO manuuktyaa |
shaantyaa prasannahR^idayaaddhanadaadupetaattvadbhaktimeva
sudR^iDhaamavR^iNOnmahaatmaa || 10||
Uttama, Dhruva’s brother was murdered by a Yaksha, but when Dhruva started fighting the Yaksha, Swayambhuva Manu had to resort to dissuade him. Satisfied with the calm dispassion of Dhruva the king of Yakshas Kuber appeared and offered him a boon; The great soul requested only steadfast adherence to the Lord.
अन्ते भवत्पुरुषनीतविमानयातो
मात्रा समं ध्रुवपदे मुदितोऽयमास्ते ।
एवं स्वभृत्यजनपालनलोलधीस्त्वं
वातालयाधिप निरुन्धि ममामयौघान् ॥११॥
ante bhavatpuruShaniitavimaanayaatO
maatraa samaM dhruvapade muditO(a)yamaaste |
evaM svabhR^ityajanapaalanalOladhiistvaM
vaataalayaadhipa nirundhi mamaamayaughaan ||11||
Lastly, riding a celestial car brought by Lords’ attendants, leaving with his mother, Dhruva even now resides in Dhruvaloka happily. Oh Guruvaayurappa!, who is always concerned with safeguarding his followers, please heal my ailments.