Canto
4
Chapter 8: Dhruva Leaves Home for the Forest
(1) Maitreya said: 'None of the ones headed by Sanaka or the other sons of Brahmâ - Nârada, Ribhu, Hamsa, Aruni and Yati - stayed at home; they for sure lived the celibate life [ûrdhva retasah, sending their seed upwards]. (2) O slayer of enemies, Mrishâ, the wife [and sister] of [another son of Brahmâ called] Irreligion produced the two [sons] Bluffing and Cheating, but they were taken by [a demon called] Nirriti who was without children. (3) From those two were born Greed and Cunning and, o great soul, from the both of them there were Anger and Malice. On turn from the both of them there were Kali and the sister called Harsh Speech. (4) O best of the truthful, from Harsh Speech did Kali produce Fearfulness and Death and of those two combined were produced Excessive Pain as well as Hell. (5) In short I so explained to you the cause of devastation; your soul its contamination will be washed off if you, as one of piety, hear of this description three times, o pure one.
(6) Now following, I will describe the dynasty famous for its virtuous activities, o best of the Kurus, that evolved from the Manu called Svâyambhuva, who was a part of a plenary portion [Brahmâ] of the Personality of Godhead. (7) Uttânapâda and Priyavrata, the two sons of Queen S'atarûpâ and her husband, as being part of the plenary expansion [Brahmâ] of the Supreme Lord Vâsudeva, were there for the protection and maintenance of the world. (8) Of the two wives of Uttânapâda, Sunîti ['the one of good conduct'] and Suruci, was Suruci ['the one delighting'] far more dear to the husband than the other one who had a son called Dhruva ['the immovable one']. (9) When once the king was patting the son of Suruci named Uttama ['the one of excel'], whom he had placed on his lap, did he not welcome Dhruva who also tried to get on his lap. (10) Queen Suruci who, being too proud, was envious, made the child of the co-wife, Dhruva, who tried to get up to him, listen to her, speaking so that the king could hear it. (11) 'My dear child, you do not deserve to seat yourself where the king sits, that place belongs to me because, although you were born as a son of the king, you were not born from my womb. (12) O child, try to understand of yourself that, because you are not my own but from the womb of another woman, the matter you desire is out of your reach. (13) If you so desire, you can only by means of penance, having satisfied the Person of God and by His mercy having found yourselves a place in my womb, seat yourselves on the throne of the King.'
(14) Maitreya said: 'Pierced by the harsh words of his stepmother, he out of anger began to breathe heavily, as a snake struck by a stick, and when he saw how his father looked on as a silent witness, began he to weep and went he to where his mother was. (15) Having heard from the others what had happened lifted Sunîti her heavily breathing son, whose lips were trembling, on her lap feeling very sorry over what was said by the co-wife. (16) Losing her composure the woman lamented with a fire of grief which, in remembrance of the things said by the other wife, burnt like dry leaves and spoke she through the haze of tears that fell from her lotus-like face. (17) Gasping for air the lady found no way to avert the danger and said to her son: 'Do not wish others anything inauspicious, my dear son, a person will have to suffer himself from the ill he wishes others. (18) The truth of what mother Suruci has told you about having taken birth from the womb of me, the unfortunate one, and that you grew up on the milk from that breast, is that the king became ashamed or in other words, that he regrets having accepted me for his wife. (19) If you desire to occupy the throne as also Uttama does, then just engage yourselves in the worship of the lotus feet of Adhokshaja, the Lord of Transcendence, my dear son, without being envious, for all that your stepmother has told you is factual. (20) The unborn One [your great-grandfather, Brahmâ] no doubt acquired his supreme position in the universe with the qualifications to create, from worshiping the One of whom we know the lotus feet and who can be approached by the ones who conquered the mind in selfregulation. (21) Likewise, found the Manu, your worshipable grandfather, his liberation thereafter; he who in worshiping with unflinching devotion and by great charity in executing sacrifices, achieved the divine in earthly happines, that is difficult to achieve by other means. (22) With Him, the Kind One taking care, my dear boy, you also should take shelter like everyone else desiring liberation has to figure out the path of the lotus feet; keep with determination, from your original nature, your mind fixed upon the devotional service of the Original Personality of God. (23) Looking for others who could ease your difficulties I know no one else to go for but Him, the lotus-eyed One, my dearest, who is sought by the herself eagerly sought Goddess of Fortune with a lotus flower in her hand.'
(24) Maitreya said: 'Thus having heard the purposeful words of the mother left he his father's house, mindfully keeping himself under control.(25) Nârada who came to hear about it and knew what he was about to do, was surprised and with the hand, that could expel all sin, touching his head, he exclaimed: (26) 'Oh that might of the rulers! Unable to tolerate any infringement on their prestige, this one being only a child, took offense at the unpalatable words that came from his stepmother.' (27) Nârada then said: 'Why is it my dear boy, that with you, presently finding no respect being insulted, I cannot see the attachment to sports and games normal for boys like you? (28) Even though you see no alternative, what reasons, other than being illusioned, would there be for people to be dissatisfied in this world wherein one by ones karma is separated from one another? (29) Therefore you should be satisfied, dear one; whatever the nature of what destiny prepares a person, is by an intelligent person seen as a way towards the Supreme. (30) Isn't it therefore so, as I am convinced is the case, that the yoga your mother told you to do for elevating yourself to His mercy, is too difficult for a person like you? (31) The greatest sages, who were on the path of detachment for many births, never came to understand what they were looking for, despite of being in the full of the severest austerities. (32) For this reason, stop now with this resolve of yours, it'll take you nowhere. Just reserve that for the future, you'll see that there will be ample opportunities for yourself then. (33) Any person who is satisfied with whatever happiness or distress that destiny prepares him, is able to reach with his embodied soul the side opposite of darkness. (34) To what is better one should feel pleased, to what is of a lesser quality one should be compassionate and to what is equal one should be friendly; thus fostering no desires one is never affected by tribulations.'
(35) Dhruva said: 'This balance of mind you talk about o Lordship, is of those who are merciful to people who are affected, but for persons like us it is very difficult to see it the way you said it. (36) It is from being born a ruler that I'm not that tolerant; pierced by the harsh words of mother Suruci I cannot keep my heart [to what you said]. (37) Please tell me of an honest way to pursue my desire for such a superior position in the three worlds, o brahmin, as not even others like my father, grandfather and forefathers could acquire. (38) Your honor, being born as a true part of Lord Brahmâ, do you, playing the vînâ, like the sun travel all over the world for the sake of its welfare.'
(39) Maitreya said: 'Thus hearing what he told him, was Nârada very pleased, whereupon he compassionately replied to give the boy good advice. (40) Nârada told him: 'That path your mother told you about is certainly your ultimate destination; render the Supreme Lord Vâsudeva your service by fully absorbing Him in your mind. (41) One who in the name of duty, virtue, gratification and liberation desires after the goal of life of the soul, should in that only be for the cause of serving His feet. (42) To that, my dear, with my blessing, go to the bank of the Yamunâ and be purified by the sacredness of the Madhuvana forest where the Lord is always present. (43) When you have taken a bath in that river there, the Kâlindî [the Yamunâ to the name of the mountain where the Yamunâ finds her source], which most auspicious the right way is performed three times a day, you should seat yourself having prepared a sitting place. (44) Through the threefold of breathcontrol [prânâyâma: controlling the in-, the outgoing and balanced breath] gradually giving up the impurities of one's thinking to the life's air and the senses, should one, with a mind unperturbed, meditate upon the Supreme Spiritual Master. (45) Always prepared to be merciful, with His pleasing mouth and typical look, His straight nose, high brows and intelligent forehead, is He the beauty of the demigods. (46) Youthful, attractive in all His limbs and with lips as red as a rising sun, is He the shelter of the surrendered, transcendental in every respect; the Worthy One merciful like the ocean. (47) Marked with the S'rîvatsa [a few white hairs on His chest] and of a deeply bluish color, He is the original Personality, garlanded with flowers, showing the conchshell, the disc, the club and lotus flower in His four hands. (48) His helmet, pearl earrings, necklace, bracelets and the Kausthuba jewel, He wears to garments of yellow silk. (49) He has small bells of gold around His waist and His ankles and is of a superior calm, peace and serenity pleasing as well the eye as the mind. (50) He takes His place on the whorl of the lotus of the hearts of those who in worship unite in the light of the glittering nails of His lotus feet. (51) One should this way always see the Lord His smiling, so affectionate with the devotees, and thus in full attention with one's mind meditate on the greatest of all benedictors. (52) The mind thus meditating the very auspicious form of the Supreme Lord is, being transcendentally enriched, very soon freed from all material contamination and will never lead away from that position.
(53) Please hear from me the very, very confidential mantra to chant, o prince, from which, done for a seven nights, a person may see the beauty of the beyond. (54) 'Om namo bhagavate vâsudevâya' [my respects for Vâsudeva, the Supreme Lord]; with this mantra [called the dvâdas'âkshara mantra] should the learned one exercise respect for the physical of the Lord, the way it should be done, with the diverse paraphernalia and as someone conversant with the differences to place and time [des'a-kâla-vibhâgavit]. (55) One purifies with the help of water, garlands of forest flowers, roots, the diverse fruits and vegetables, fresh grass, buds, bark and with the respect of tulsî-leaves, which are very dear to the Lord your master. (56) One may begin with procuring and worshiping a deity made of physical elements like earth and water [clay], or, as a great personality, be of full self-control and in peace control one's speech and eat frugally from whatever the forest offers. (57) To that should one meditate on the intriguing activities performed by the Supreme Lord of Wisdom, the way He, by His own potency, so inconceivably incarnates out of His own will. (58) To be in service of the Supreme Lord as I told you is the recommendation of the previous teachers of example who one, within one's heart, for sure should respect with the mantras, as they are the embodiment of them. (59-60) Thus with one's body, mind and words simply thinking of the Lord, is, engaged in the service, the Supreme Lord to the regulations of bhakti worshiped. The devotees engaged sincerely and seriously does the Lord, who brings love, reward what they desire in regard of the spiritual life and benefits [the so-called purushârthas ] of the conditioned souls. (61) In complete detachment from all sense-gratification must one, being serious in bhakti-yoga about one's liberation, unrelenting exercise a respect that is steeped in love for Him directly.'
(62) Thus being addressed by him, circumambulated the son of the king him offering his obeisances and went he to the Madhuvana forest which, imprinted by the feet of the Lord, was the right place to be. (63) When he thus had withdrawn himself entering the forest, thought the respected sage it wise to pay the king a visit in his palace; and seated there comfortably, he spoke to him. (64) Nârada said: 'Dear King, what are you thinking so deeply about with a wry face - have you lost your grip on the gratification, the religion or the economy?'
(65) The king replied: 'O brahmin, my sweet boy, my son, although he is only five years old and actually a great personality and devotee, have I, being too attached to my wife and too hard of heart, banished from here together with his mother. (66) I worry whether, without being protected by anyone in the forest, o brahmin, the helpless boy whose face is like a lotus, hasn't been devoured by wolves, in his, emaciated of hunger, in fatigue lying down. (67) Alas, how cruel was I, being conquered by a woman; just imagine how most hard hearted I refused to be affectionate with him when he out of love tried to climb on my lap.'
(68) Nârada said: 'Do not, I say, do not be aggrieved about your son. He is well protected by the Godhead, o master of men, you don't know how widespread his influence is all over the world. (69) The boy is quite capable; after performing what is impossible for even the greatest around, will he, to the better of your reputation, directly come back to you, dear King.'
(70) Maitreya Muni said: 'The king, hearing of what Nârada had told him, began to think about him and fell in neglect with his opulent kingdom. (71) Meanwhile was, after taking a bath, fasting that night, the Original Personality worshiped [by Dhruva] with perfect attention as Nârada had advised. (72) For the first month worshiping the Lord, he only ate, to the bare necessity of preserving his body, fruits and berries in the morning after every third night. (73) The next month the innocent boy continued his respect for the Almighty, eating every sixth day as mentioned, preparing daily his food from grasses and leaves gone dry. (74) The passing third month long he drank each ninth day water only, fully absorbed in his respect for the Lord of Wisdom, Uttama S'loka. (75) That way continuing into the fourth month, each twelfth day he ate air only, controlling his breath, meditating in worship of God.(76) By the fifth month still in control of his breath, stood the son of the king, meditating on the Creator, on one leg like a column without moving. (77) In every respect concentrating the mind in the heart, meditated he the resting place for the senses and their objects, not looking for anything else but the form of the Supreme Lord. (78) Keeping his mind focussed on the foundation, the cosmic intelligence of the reality, the master of the primal ether [pradhâna] and the person, the Supreme Spirit, began all the three worlds to tremble. (79) As he remained standing on the one leg pressed he, the child of the king, with the one half [of his body] the earth down with his big toe bent, just like the king of elephants does who as a boat balances left and right with every step. (80) He thus confining the life air, in the full of his meditation having stopped his breathing and closed all gates of the body, was suffocating all the worlds and soon all the great ones from all places sought their refuge with the Lord.
(81) The godly said: 'We never saw anything like this, o Supreme Lord; the flow of the universal breath is obstructed; therefore do we all approach You, the reservoir of all existence so kind to the needy, to take shelter with Your Honor to save us from the calamity.'
(82) The Supreme Lord replied: 'Fear not, this choking of the life air happens on account of the son of King Uttânapâda who is in deep thought of Me; I will ask the boy, strong in his determination of penance, to stop with this. Please return to your homes.'
Source texts:
Dhruva Mahârâja Leaves Home for the Forest
Maitreya said: 'None of the ones headed by Sanaka or the other sons of Brahmâ - Nârada, Ribhu, Hamsa, Aruni and Yati - stayed at home; they for sure lived the celibate life [ûrdhva retasah, sending their seed upwards].The great sage Maitreya said: The four great Kumara sages headed by Sanaka, as well as Nârada, Ribhu, Hamsa, Aruni and Yati, all sons of Brahmâ did not live at home, but became ûrdhva-retâ, or naishthhika-brahmacârîs, unadulterated celibates. (Vedabase)
O slayer of enemies, Mrishâ, the wife [and sister] of [another son of Brahmâ called] Irreligion produced the two [sons] Bluffing and Cheating, but they were taken by [a demon called] Nirriti who was without children.
Another son of Lord Brahmâ was Irreligion, whose wife's name was Falsity. From their combination were born two demons named Dambha, or Bluffing, and Mâyâ, or Cheating. These two demons were taken by a demon named Nirriti, who had no children. (Vedabase)
From those two were born Greed and Cunning and, o great soul, from the both of them there were Anger and Malice. On turn from the both of them there were Kali and the sister called Harsh Speech.
Maitreya told Vidura: O great soul, from Dambha and Mâyâ were born Greed and Nikriti, or Cunning. From their combination came children named Krodha. (Anger) and Himsâ. (Envy), and from their combination were born Kali and his sister Durukti. (Harsh Speech). (Vedabase)
O best of the truthful, from Harsh Speech did Kali produce Fearfulness and Death and of those two combined were produced Excessive Pain as well as Hell.
O greatest of all good men, by the combination of Kali and Harsh Speech were born children named Mrityu. (Death) and Bhîti. (Fear) From the combination of Mrityu and Bhîti came children named Yâtanâ. (Excessive Pain) and Niraya. (Hell). (Vedabase)
In short I so explained to you the cause of devastation; your soul its contamination will be washed off if you, as one of piety, hear of this description three times, o pure one.
My dear Vidura, I have summarily explained the causes of devastation. One who hears this description three times attains piety and washes the sinful contamination from his soul. (Vedabase)
Now following, I will describe the dynasty famous for its virtuous activities, o best of the Kurus, that evolved from the Manu called Svâyambhuva, who was a part of a plenary portion [Brahmâ] of the Personality of Godhead.
Maitreya continued: O best of the Kuru dynasty, I shall now describe before you the descendants of Svâyambhuva Manu, who was born of a part of a plenary expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)
Uttânapâda and Priyavrata, the two sons of Queen Satârûpa and her husband, as being part of the plenary expansion [Brahmâ] of the Supreme Lord Vâsudeva, were there for the protection and maintenance of the world.
Svâyambhuva Manu had two sons by his wife, S'atarûpâ, and the names of the sons were Uttânapâda and Priyavrata. Because both of them were descendants of a plenary expansion of Vâsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they were very competent to rule the universe to maintain and protect the citizens. (Vedabase)
Of the two wives of Uttânapâda, Sunîti ['the one of good conduct'] and Suruci, was Suruci ['the one delighting'] far more dear to the husband than the other one who had a son called Dhruva [''the immovable one'].
King Uttânapâda had two queens, named Sunîti and Suruci. Suruci was much more dear to the King; Sunîti, who had a son named Dhruva, was not his favorite. (Vedabase)
When once the king was patting the son of Suruci named Uttama ['the one of excel'], whom he had placed on his lap, did he not welcome Dhruva who also tried to get on his lap.
Once upon a time, King Uttânapâda was patting the son of Suruci, Uttama, placing him on his lap. Dhruva Mahârâja was also trying to get on the King's lap, but the King did not very much welcome him. (Vedabase)
Queen Suruci who, being too proud, was envious, made the child of the co-wife, Dhruva, who tried to get up to him, listen to her, speaking so that the king could hear it.
While the child, Dhruva Mahârâja, was trying to get on the lap of his father, Suruci, his stepmother, became very envious of the child, and with great pride she began to speak so as to be heard by the King himself. (Vedabase)
'My dear child, you do not deserve to seat yourself where the king sits, that place belongs to me because, although you were born as a son of the king, you were not born from my womb.
Queen Suruci told Dhruva Mahârâja: My dear child, you do not deserve to sit on the throne or on the lap of the King. Surely you are also the son of the King, but because you did not take your birth from my womb, you are not qualified to sit on your father's lap. (Vedabase)
O child, try to understand of yourself that, because you are not my own but from the womb of another woman, the matter you desire is out of your reach.
My dear child, you are unaware that you were born not of my womb but of another woman. Therefore you should know that your attempt is doomed to failure. You are trying to fulfill a desire which is impossible to fulfill. (Vedabase)
You can seat yourselves on the throne of the king if you so desire, but only if you, by means of penance, have satisfied the Person of God and by His mercy have found yourselves a place in my womb.'
If you at all desire to rise to the throne of the King, then you have to undergo severe austerities. First of all you must satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nârâyana, and then, when you are favored by Him because of such worship, you shall have to take your next birth from my womb. (Vedabase)
Maitreya said: 'Pierced by the harsh words of his stepmother, he out of anger began to breathe heavily, as a snake struck by a stick, and when he saw how his father looked on as a silent witness, began he to weep and went he to where his mother was.
The sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, as a snake, when struck by a stick, breathes very heavily, Dhruva Mahârâja, having been struck by the strong words of his stepmother, began to breathe very heavily because of great anger. When he saw that his father was silent and did not protest, he immediately left the palace and went to his mother. (Vedabase)
Having heard from the others what had happened lifted Sunîti her heavily breathing son, whose lips were trembling, on her lap feeling very sorry over what was said by the co-wife.
When Dhruva Mahârâja reached his mother, his lips were trembling in anger, and he was crying very grievously. Queen Sunîti immediately lifted her son onto her lap, while the palace residents who had heard all the harsh words of Suruci related everything in detail. Thus Sunîti also became greatly aggrieved. (Vedabase)
Losing her composure the woman lamented with a fire of grief which, in remembrance of the things said by the other wife, burnt like dry leaves and spoke she through the haze of tears that fell from her lotus-like face.
This incident was unbearable to Sunîti's patience. She began to burn as if in a forest fire, and in her grief she became just like a burnt leaf and so lamented. As she remembered the words of her co-wife, her bright, lotus-like face filled with tears, and thus she spoke. (Vedabase)
Gasping for air the lady found no way to avert the danger and said to her son: 'Do not wish others anything inauspicious, my dear son, a person will have to suffer himself from the ill he wishes others. (Vedabase)
She also was breathing very heavily, and she did not know the factual remedy for the painful situation. Not finding any remedy, she said to her son: My dear son, don't wish for anything inauspicious for others. Anyone who inflicts pains upon others suffers himself from that pain.
The truth of what mother Suruci has told you about having taken birth from the womb of me, the unfortunate one, and that you grew up on the milk from that breast, is that the king became ashamed or in other words, that he regrets having accepted me for his wife.
Sunîti said: My dear boy, whatever has been spoken by Suruci is so, because the King, your father, does not consider me his wife or even his maidservant. He feels ashamed to accept me. Therefore it is a fact that you have taken birth from the womb of an unfortunate woman, and by being fed from her breast you have grown up. (Vedabase)
If you desire to occupy the throne as also Uttama does, then just engage yourselves in the worship of the lotus feet of Adhokshaja, the Lord of Transcendence, my dear son, without being envious, for all that your stepmother has told you is factual.
My dear boy, whatever has been spoken by Suruci, your stepmother, although very harsh to hear, is factual. Therefore, if you desire at all to sit on the same throne as your stepbrother, Uttama, then give up your envious attitude and immediately try to execute the instructions of your stepmother. Without further delay, you must engage yourself in worshiping the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)
The unborn One [your great-grandfather, Brahmâ] no doubt acquired his supreme position in the universe with the qualifications to create, from worshiping the One of whom we know the lotus feet and who can be approached by the ones who conquered the mind in selfregulation.
Sunîti continued: The Supreme Personality of Godhead is so great that simply by worshiping His lotus feet, your great-grandfather, Lord Brahma, acquired the necessary qualifications to create this universe. Although he is unborn and is the chief of all living creatures, he is situated in that exalted post because of the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whom even great yogîs worship by controlling the mind and regulating the life air [prâna]. (Vedabase)
Likewise, found the Manu, your worshipable grandfather, his liberation thereafter; he who in worshiping with unflinching devotion and by great charity in executing sacrifices, achieved the divine in earthly happiness that is difficult to achieve by other means.
Sunîti informed her son: Your grandfather Svâyambhuva Manu executed great sacrifices with distribution of charity, and thereby, with unflinching faith and devotion, he worshiped and satisfied the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By acting in that way, he achieved the greatest success in material happiness and afterwards achieved liberation, which is impossible to obtain by worshiping the demigods. (Vedabase)With Him, the Kind One taking care, my dear boy, you also should take shelter like everyone else desiring liberation has to figure out the path of the lotus feet; keep with determination, from your original nature, your mind fixed upon the devotional service of the Original Personality of God.
My dear boy, you also should take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is very kind to His devotees. Persons seeking liberation from the cycle of birth and death always take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord in devotional service. Becoming purified by executing your allotted occupation, just situate the Supreme Personality of Godhead in your heart, and without deviating for a moment, engage always in His service. (Vedabase)
Looking for others who could ease your difficulties I know no one else to go for but Him, the lotus-eyed One, my dearest, who is sought by the herself eagerly sought Goddess of Fortune with a lotus flower in her hand.'
My dear Dhruva, as far as I am concerned, I do not find anyone who can mitigate your distress but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose eyes are like lotus petals. Many demigods such as Lord Brahmâ seek the pleasure of the goddess of fortune, but the goddess of fortune herself, with a lotus flower in her hand, is always ready to render service to the Supreme Lord. (Vedabase)
Maitreya said: 'Thus having heard the purposeful words of the mother left he his father's house, mindfully keeping himself under control.
The great sage Maitreya continued: The instruction of Dhruva Mahârâja's mother, Sunîti, was actually meant for fulfilling his desired objective. Therefore, after deliberate consideration and with intelligence and fixed determination, he left his father's house. (Vedabase)
Nârada who came to hear about it and knew what he was about to do, was surprised and with the hand, that could expel all sin, touching his head, he exclaimed:
The great sage Nârada overheard this news, and understanding all the activities of Dhruva Mahârâja, he was struck with wonder. He approached Dhruva, and touching the boy's head with his all-virtuous hand, he spoke as follows. (Vedabase)
'Oh that might of the rulers! Unable to tolerate any infringement on their prestige, this one being only a child, took offense at the unpalatable words that came from his stepmother.'
How wonderful are the powerful kshatriyas. They cannot tolerate even a slight infringement upon their prestige. Just imagine! This boy is only a small child, yet harsh words from his stepmother proved unbearable to him. (Vedabase)
Nârada then said: 'Why is it my dear boy, that with you, presently finding no respect being insulted, I cannot see the attachment to sports and games normal for boys like you?
The great sage Nârada told Dhruva: My dear boy, you are only a little boy whose attachment is to sports and other frivolities. Why are you so affected by words insulting your honor. (Vedabase)?
Even though you see no alternative, what reasons, other than being illusioned, would there be for people to be dissatisfied in this world wherein one by ones karma is separated from one another?
My dear Dhruva, if you feel that your sense of honor has been insulted, you still have no cause for dissatisfaction. This kind of dissatisfaction is another feature of the illusory energy; every living entity is controlled by his previous actions, and therefore there are different varieties of life for enjoying or suffering. (Vedabase)
Therefore you should be satisfied, dear one; whatever the nature of what destiny prepares a person, is by an intelligent person seen as a way towards the Supreme.
The process of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very wonderful. One who is intelligent should accept that process and be satisfied with whatever comes, favorable or unfavorable, by His supreme will. (Vedabase)
Isn't it therefore so, as I am convinced is the case, that the yoga your mother told you to do for elevating yourself to His mercy, is too difficult for a person like you?
Now you have decided to undertake the mystic process of meditation under the instruction of your mother, just to achieve the mercy of the Lord, but in my opinion such austerities are not possible for any ordinary man. It is very difficult to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)
The greatest sages, who were on the path of detachment for many births, never came to understand what they were looking for, despite of being in the full of the severest austerities.
Nârada Muni continued: After trying this process for many, many births and remaining unattached to material contamination, placing themselves continually in trance and executing many types of austerities, many mystic yogîs were unable to find the end of the path of God realization. (Vedabase)
For this reason, stop now with this resolve of yours, it'll take you nowhere. Just reserve that for the future, you'll see that there will be ample opportunities for yourself then.
For this reason, my dear boy, you should not endeavor for this; it will not be successful. It is better that you go home. When you are grown up, by the mercy of the Lord you will get a chance for these mystic performances. At that time you may execute this function. (Vedabase)
Any person who is satisfied with whatever happiness or distress that destiny prepares him, is able to reach with his embodied soul the side opposite of darkness.
One should try to keep himself satisfied in any condition of life--whether distress or happiness--which is offered by the supreme will. A person who endures in this way is able to cross over the darkness of nescience very easily. (Vedabase)
To what is better one should feel pleased, to what is of a lesser quality one should be compassionate and to what is equal one should be friendly; thus fostering no desires one is never affected by tribulations.'
Every man should act like this: when he meets a person more qualified than himself, he should be very pleased; when he meets someone less qualified than himself, he should be compassionate toward him; and when he meets someone equal to himself, he should make friendship with him. In this way one is never affected by the threefold miseries of this material world. (Vedabase)
Dhruva said: 'This balance of mind you talk about o Lordship, is of those who are merciful to people who are affected, but for persons like us it is very difficult to see it the way you said it.
Dhruva Mahârâja said: My dear Lord Nâradaji, for a person whose heart is disturbed by the material conditions of happiness and distress, whatever you have so kindly explained for attainment of peace of mind is certainly a very good instruction. But as far as I am concerned, I am covered by ignorance, and this kind of philosophy does not touch my heart. (Vedabase)
It is from being born a ruler that I'm not that tolerant; pierced by the harsh words of mother Suruci I cannot keep my heart [to what you said].
My dear lord, I am very impudent for not accepting your instructions, but this is not my fault. It is due to my having been born in a kshatriya family. My stepmother, Suruci, has pierced my heart with her harsh words. Therefore your valuable instruction does not stand in my heart. (Vedabase)
Please tell me of an honest way to pursue my desire for such a superior position in the three worlds, o brahmin, as not even others like my father, grandfather and forefathers could acquire.
O learned brahmana, I want to occupy a position more exalted than any yet achieved within the three worlds by anyone, even by my fathers and grandfathers. If you will oblige, kindly advise me of an honest path to follow by which I can achieve the goal of my life. (Vedabase)
Your Honor, being born as a true part of Lord Brahmâ, do you, playing the vînâ, like the sun travel all over the world for the sake of its welfare.'
My dear lord, you are a worthy son of Lord Brahma, and you travel, playing on your musical instrument, the vîna, for the welfare of the entire universe. You are like the sun, which rotates in the universe for the benefit of all living beings. (Vedabase)
Maitreya said: 'Thus hearing what he told him, was Nârada very pleased, whereupon he compassionately replied to give the boy good advice.
The sage Maitreya continued: The great personality Nârada Muni, upon hearing the words of Dhruva Mahârâja, became very compassionate toward him, and in order to show him his causeless mercy, he gave him the following expert advice. (Vedabase)Nârada told him: 'That path your mother told you about is certainly your ultimate destination; render the Supreme Lord Vâsudeva your service by fully absorbing Him in your mind.
The great sage Nârada told Dhruva Mahârâja: The instruction given by your mother, Sunîti, to follow the path of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is just suitable for you. You should therefore completely absorb yourself in the devotional service of the Lord. (Vedabase)
One who in the name of duty, virtue, gratification and liberation desires after the goal of life of the soul, should in that only be for the cause of serving His feet.
Any person who desires the fruits of the four principles religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and, at the end, liberation, should engage himself in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for worship of His lotus feet yields the fulfillment of all of these(Vedabase)
To that, my dear, with my blessing, go to the bank of the Yamunâ and be purified by the sacredness of the Madhuvana forest where the Lord is always present.
My dear boy, I therefore wish all good fortune for you. You should go to the bank of the Yamunâ, where there is a virtuous forest named Madhuvana, and there be purified. Just by going there, one draws nearer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who always lives there. (Vedabase)
When you have taken a bath in that river there, the Kâlindî [the Yamunâ to the name of the mountain where the Yamunâ finds her source], which most auspicious the right way is performed three times a day, you should seat yourself having prepared a sitting place.
Nârada Muni instructed: My dear boy, in the waters of the Yamunâ River, which is known as Kâlindî, you should take three baths daily because the water is very auspicious, sacred and clear. After bathing, you should perform the necessary regulative principles for ashthânga-yoga and then sit down on your âsana [sitting place] in a calm and quiet position. (Vedabase)Through the threefold of breathcontrol [prânâyâma: controlling the in-, the outgoing and balanced breath] gradually giving up the impurities of one's thinking to the life's air and the senses, should one, with a mind unperturbed, meditate upon the Supreme Spiritual Master.
After sitting on your seat, practice the three kinds of breathing exercises, and thus gradually control the life air, the mind and the senses. Completely free yourself from all material contamination, and with great patience begin to meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)
Always prepared to be merciful, with His pleasing mouth and typical look, His straight nose, high brows and intelligent forehead, is He the beauty of the demigods.
[The form of the Lord is described herein.] The Lord's face is perpetually very beautiful and pleasing in attitude. To the devotees who see Him, He appears never to be displeased, and He is always prepared to award benedictions to them. His eyes, His nicely decorated eyebrows, His raised nose and His broad forehead are all very beautiful. He is more beautiful than all the demigods. (Vedabase)
Youthful, attractive in all His limbs and with lips as red as a rising sun, is He the shelter of the surrendered, transcendental in every respect; the Worthy One merciful like the ocean.
Nârada Muni continued: The Lord's form is always youthful. Every limb and every part of His body is properly formed, free from defect. His eyes and lips are pinkish like the rising sun. He is always prepared to give shelter to the surrendered soul, and anyone so fortunate as to look upon Him feels all satisfaction. The Lord is always worthy to be the master of the surrendered soul, for He is the ocean of mercy. (Vedabase)
Marked with the S'rîvatsa [a few white hairs on His chest] and of a deeply bluish color, He is the original Personality, garlanded with flowers, showing the conchshell, the disc, the club and lotus flower in His four hands.
The Lord is further described as having the mark of S'rîvatsa, or the sitting place of the goddess of fortune, and His bodily hue is deep bluish. The Lord is a person, He wears a garland of flowers, and He is eternally manifest with four hands, which hold [beginning from the lower left hand] a conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower. (Vedabase)
His helmet, pearl earrings, necklace, bracelets and the Kausthuba jewel, He wears to garments of yellow silk.
The entire body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vâsudeva, is decorated. He wears a valuable jeweled helmet, necklaces and bracelets, His neck is adorned with the Kaustubha jewel, and He is dressed in yellow silk garments. (Vedabase)
He has small bells of gold around His waist and His ankles and is of a superior calm, peace and serenity pleasing as well the eye as the mind.
The Lord is decorated with small golden bells around His waist, and His lotus feet are decorated with golden ankle bells. All His bodily features are very attractive and pleasing to the eyes. He is always peaceful, calm and quiet and very pleasing to the eyes and the mind. (Vedabase)
He takes His place on the whorl of the lotus of the hearts of those who in worship unite in the light of the glittering nails of His lotus feet.
Real yogîs meditate upon the transcendental form of the Lord as He stands on the whorl of the lotus of their hearts, the jewellike nails of His lotus feet glittering. (Vedabase)
One should this way always see the Lord His smiling, so affectionate with the devotees, and thus in full attention with one's mind meditate on the greatest of all benedictors.
The Lord is always smiling, and the devotee should constantly see the Lord in this form, as He looks very mercifully toward the devotee. In this way the meditator should look toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the bestower of all benedictions. (Vedabase)
The mind thus meditating the very auspicious form of the Supreme Lord is, being transcendentally enriched, very soon freed from all material contamination and will never lead away from that position.
One who meditates in this way, concentrating his mind upon the always auspicious form of the Lord, is very soon freed from all material contamination, and he does not come down from meditation upon the Lord. (Vedabase)
Please hear from me the very, very confidential mantra to chant, o prince, from which, done for a seven nights, a person may see the beauty of the beyond.
O son of the King, now I shall speak unto you the mantra which is to be chanted with this process of meditation. One who carefully chants this mantra for seven nights can see the perfect human beings flying in the sky. (Vedabase)
'Om namo bhagavate vâsudevâya' [my respects for Vâsudeva, the Supreme Lord]; with this mantra [called the dvâdas'âkshara mantra] should the learned one exercise respect for the physical of the Lord, the way it should be done, with the diverse paraphernalia and as someone conversant with the differences to place and time [des'a-kâla-vibhâgavit].
Om namo bhagavate vâsudevâya. This is the twelve-syllable mantra for worshiping Lord Krishna. One should install the physical forms of the Lord, and with the chanting of the mantra one should offer flowers and fruits and other varieties of foodstuffs exactly according to the rules and regulations prescribed by authorities. But this should be done in consideration of place, time, and attendant conveniences and inconveniences. (Vedabase)
One purifies with the help of water, garlands of forest flowers, roots, the diverse fruits and vegetables, fresh grass, buds, bark and with the respect of tulsî-leaves, which are very dear to the Lord your master.
One should worship the Lord by offering pure water, pure flower garlands, fruits, flowers and vegetables, which are available in the forest, or by collecting newly grown grasses, small buds of flowers or even the skins of trees, and if possible, by offering tulasî leaves, which are very dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)
One may begin with procuring and worshiping a deity made of physical elements like earth and water [clay], or, as a great personality, be of full self-control and in peace control one's speech and eat frugally from whatever the forest offers.
It is possible to worship a form of the Lord made of physical elements such as earth, water, pulp, wood and metal. In the forest one can make a form with no more than earth and water and worship Him according to the above principles. A devotee who has full control over his self should be very sober and peaceful and must be satisfied simply with eating whatever fruits and vegetables are available in the forest. (Vedabase)
To that should one meditate on the intriguing activities performed by the Supreme Lord of Wisdom, the way He, by His own potency, so inconceivably incarnates out of His own will.
My dear Dhruva, besides worshiping the Deity and chanting the mantra three times a day, you should meditate upon the transcendental activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His different incarnations, as exhibited by His supreme will and personal potencies. (Vedabase)
To be in service of the Supreme Lord as I told you is the recommendation of the previous teachers of example who one, within one's heart, for sure should respect with the mantras, as they are the embodiment of them.
One should follow in the footsteps of previous devotees regarding how to worship the Supreme Lord with the prescribed paraphernalia, or one should offer worship within the heart by reciting the mantra to the Personality of Godhead, who is nondifferent from the mantra. (Vedabase)
Thus with one's body, mind and words simply thinking of the Lord, is, engaged in the service, the Supreme Lord to the regulations of bhakti worshiped. The devotees engaged sincerely and seriously does the Lord, who brings love, reward what they desire in regard of the spiritual life and benefits [the so-called purushârthas ] of the conditioned souls.
Anyone who thus engages in the devotional service of the Lord, seriously and sincerely, with his mind, words and body, and who is fixed in the activities of the prescribed devotional methods, is blessed by the Lord according to his desire. If a devotee desires material religiosity, economic development, sense gratification or liberation from the material world, he is awarded these results. (Vedabase)
In complete detachment from all sense-gratification must one, being serious in bhakti-yoga about one's liberation, unrelenting exercise a respect that is steeped in love for Him directly.'
If one is very serious about liberation, he must stick to the process of transcendental loving service, engaging twenty-four hours a day in the highest stage of ecstasy, and he must certainly be aloof from all activities of sense gratification. (Vedabase)
Thus being addressed by him, circumambulated the son of the king him offering his obeisances and went he to the Madhuvana forest which, imprinted by the feet of the Lord, was the right place to be.
When Dhruva Mahârâja, the son of the King, was thus advised by the great sage Nârada, he circumambulated Nârada, his spiritual master, and offered him respectful obeisances. Then he started for Madhuvana, which is always imprinted with the lotus footprints of Lord Krishna and which is therefore especially auspicious. (Vedabase)
When he thus had withdrawn himself entering the forest, thought the respected sage it wise to pay the king a visit in his palace; and seated there comfortably, he spoke to him.
After Dhruva entered Madhuvana Forest to execute devotional service, the great sage Nârada thought it wise to go to the King to see how he was faring within the palace. When Nârada Muni approached, the King received him properly, offering him due obeisances. After being seated comfortably, Nârada began to speak. (Vedabase)
Nârada said: 'Dear King, what are you thinking so deeply about with a wry face - have you lost your grip on the gratification, the religion or the economy?'
The great sage Nârada inquired: My dear King, your face appears to be withering up, and you look like you have been thinking of something for a very long time. Why is that? Have you been hampered in following your path of religious rites, economic development and sense gratification. (Vedabase)?
The king replied: 'O brahmin, my sweet boy, my son, although he is only five years old and actually a great personality and devotee, have I, being too attached to my wife and too hard of heart, banished from here together with his mother.
The King replied: O best of the brahmânas, I am very much addicted to my wife, and I am so fallen that I have abandoned all merciful behavior, even to my son, who is only five years old. I have banished him and his mother, even though he is a great soul and a great devotee. (Vedabase)
I worry whether, without being protected by anyone in the forest, o brahmin, the helpless boy whose face is like a lotus, hasn't been devoured by wolves, in his, emaciated of hunger, in fatigue lying down.
My dear brahmana, the face of my son was just like a lotus flower. I am thinking of his precarious condition. He is unprotected, and he might he very hungry. He might have lain down somewhere in the forest, and the wolves might have attacked him to eat his body. (Vedabase)
Alas, how cruel was I, being conquered by a woman; just imagine how most hard hearted I refused to be affectionate with him when he out of love tried to climb on my lap.'
Alas, just see how I was conquered by my wife! Just imagine my cruelty! Out of love and affection the boy was trying to get up on my lap, but I did not receive him, nor did I even pat him for a moment. Just imagine how hardhearted I am. (Vedabase)
Nârada said: 'Do not, I say, do not be aggrieved about your son. He is well protected by the Godhead, o master of men, you don't know how widespread his influence is all over the world.
The great sage Nârada replied: My dear King, please do not he aggrieved about your son. He is well protected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although you have no actual information of his influence, his reputation is already spread all over the world. (Vedabase)
The boy is quite capable; after performing what is impossible for even the greatest around, will he, to the better of your reputation, directly come back to you, dear King.'
My dear King, your son is very competent. He will perform activities which would he impossible even for great kings and sages. Very soon he will complete his task and come back home. You should know that he will also spread your reputation all over the world. (Vedabase)
Maitreya Muni said: 'The king, hearing of what Nârada had told him, began to think about him and fell in neglect with his opulent kingdom.
The great Maitreya continued: The King, Uttânapâda, after being advised by Nârada Muni, practically gave up all duties in relation with his kingdom, which was very vast and wide, opulent like the goddess of fortune, and he simply began to think of his son Dhruva. (Vedabase)
Meanwhile was, after taking a bath, fasting that night, the Original Personality worshiped [by Dhruva] with perfect attention as Nârada had advised.
Elsewhere, Dhruva Mahârâja, having arrived at Madhuvana, took his bath in the River Yamunâ and observed fasting in the night with great care and attention. After that, as advised by the great sage Nârada, he engaged himself in worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)
For the first month worshipping the Lord, he only ate, to the bare necessity of preserving his body, fruits and berries in the morning after every third night.
For the first month Dhruva Mahârâja ate only fruits and berries on every third day, only to keep his body and soul together, and in this way he progressed in his worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)
The next month the innocent boy continued his respect for the Almighty, eating every sixth day as mentioned, preparing daily his food from grasses and leaves gone dry.
In the second month Dhruva Mahârâja ate only every six days, and for his eatables he took dry grass and leaves. Thus he continued his worship. (Vedabase)
The passing third month long he drank each ninth day water only, fully absorbed in his respect for the Lord of Wisdom, Uttama S'loka.
In the third month he drank water only every nine days. Thus he remained completely in trance and worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is adored by selected verses. (Vedabase)
That way continuing into the fourth month, each twelfth day he ate air only, controlling his breath, meditating in worship of God.
In the fourth month Dhruva Mahârâja became a complete master of the breathing exercise, and thus he inhaled air only every twelfth day. In this way he became completely fixed in his position and worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)
By the fifth month still in control of his breath, stood the son of the king, meditating on the Creator, on one leg like a column without moving.
By the fifth month, Mahârâja Dhruva, the son of the King, had controlled his breathing so perfectly that he was able to stand on only one leg, just as a column stands, without motion, and concentrate his mind fully on the Parabrahman. (Vedabase)
In every respect concentrating the mind in the heart, meditated he the resting place for the senses and their objects, not looking for anything else but the form of the Supreme Lord.
He completely controlled his senses and their objects, and in this way he fixed his mind, without diversion to anything else, upon the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)
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