12.Dhruva Mahârâja Goes Back to Godhead

Skandham-4.

Chapter-12.

Slokam -1 to 52.




(1) Maitreya said: 'Having learned that Dhruva, with his anger lingered, had refrained from killing, did Kuvera, the master of the treasury, worshiped by the Cârana's, Kinnaras [singers and indwellers of heaven] and Yakshas, then appear there and speak to Dhruva who stood with folded hands before him. (2) The master of the treasury said: 'O son of the ruler, I am very glad with you o sinless one, because under the instruction of your grandfather you gave up the enmity that is so difficult to avoid. (3) Nor did you kill the Yakshas, nor did the Yakshas kill your brother; for it is the Time that is really the master of annihilation and generation of all the living. (4) With the misconceptions of 'I' and 'You' it from ignorance appears to the intelligence of a person following the bodily concept just to be like in a dream; it is that which is the cause of bondage and misery. (5) Therefore come Dhruva - all good fortune to you - to the respect for the Supreme Lord Beyond the Senses of all living beings and think of Him as the form of the one Supersoul in all that lives. (6) Be in devotion unto Him whose lotus feet are worth the worship, as they deliver from the material existence and cut the knot of material entanglement; although to His potency of the modes He is connected with it, He is aloof by His inconceivable potency. (7) O King, please ask without hesitation from me whatever you think to be desirable, o son of Uttânapâda; since having heard, o dearest, about your enduring at the lotusfeet of Him from whose navel the lotus sprouted, you are worthy the benediction. '


(8) Maitreya said: 'He, by the king of the Yakshas being offered a benediction, asked, as a first class intelligent and thoughtful devotee of the Lord, for the continuous remembrance by which one without difficulty crosses over the unsurpassable ocean of nescience. (9) Kuvera, the son of Idavidâ, being very pleased with Dhruva's mentality, granted him that remembrance and thereafter disappeared out of his sight, after which Dhruva also returned to his capital. (10) He subsequently, by sacrificial ceremonies and great charities, worshiped, with all he had, could do and find support from, the Ruler of all Sacrifice, the objective who awards all results. (11) Unrelenting rendering service unto the infallible and unlimited Supersoul, he saw situated in the Supreme spirit in all living beings only Him, the Almighty One. (12) He thus endowed with godly qualities, of respect for the brahmins and the poor and being the kind protector of the principles of religion, was considered the father of the people. (13) For the thirty-six thousand years of his rule over the planet Earth, he by enjoyment diminished the effects of the good deeds and by austerity diminished the consequences of the inauspicious. (14) Thus the great soul after the duration of time of many, many years, without being disturbed by agitated senses, favorably executed the three kinds of worldly action [the regulation of religion, economy and gratification] and then handed the royal throne over to his son. (15) He realized that this universe made of the external energy was to the living being a phantasmagoria prepared by ignorance like in a dream. (16) He considered all the created, of himself, his wives, children, friends, his influence, riches, the pleasuregrounds and the upkeep for the women and the complete of the beauty of the earth with its oceans, as something bound to time and thus he left for Badarikâs'rama [the Himalayan forest]. (17) There he purified his body, bathing in pure water and controlled, fixed in yogîc postures, the breathing process by withdrawing the mind from his physical senses. Concentrating on the exact form of the Lord he in his mind meditating that way without stopping, became fully absorbed. (18) Engaged in constant devotion unto Lord Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he was in an everlasting bliss and again and again overcome by a stream of tears that made his heart melt and all the hairs of his body stand on end; he no longer remembered he had a body and was thus liberated from [also the subtlety of] the material bond [mukta-linga]. 


(19) Dhruva saw a very beautiful chariot descending from the sky that illumined him and the ten directions as if the full moon itself was appearing. (20) There he then saw two beautiful demigods in it with four arms, a blackish skin, being quite young and with eyes reddish like a lotus flower, holding clubs, attractively clad with helmets, bracelets, necklaces and earrings. (21) Understanding them to be two servants of the One of Renown, he stood up but being puzzled he forgot the proper way to behave and thus respectfully joined his hands offering his respects by chanting the names of the chief of these associates, the Enemy of Madhu. (22) He whose heart was always absorbed in thoughts about the feet of Lord Krishna very humbly with the folding of his hands bowed his neck while they, Nanda and Sunanda, the two confidential servants of the One of the Lotusnavel, smiling approached and addressed him. (23) Nanda and Sunanda said: 'O best of kings! All good fortune to you. Listen attentively to our words. You are the one who, being five years old, greatly satisfied God by penance. (24) As the associates of the creator of this entire universe, of the Godhead who carries the bow named S'ârnga, we have approached you to take you with us to where the Lord resides. (25) The position of Vishnu so difficult to reach that not even the greatest of enlightenment can achieve it, has been conquered by you. Come and simply see the supreme that the moon, the sun, the other planets and the stars circumambulate to the right. (26) Never ever was this achieved by your forefathers or even others, o dear one; come and live there in that supreme position of Lord Vishnu who is so worshipable for the inhabitants of the universe. (27) O immortal soul, you are worthy to board this unique heavenly chariot that was sent to you by the Praised One, the head of all living beings. '


(28) The sage Maitreya said: 'After hearing the speeches pouring like honey from the chief associates of the Lord, took the one so dear to Him, offering the sages his obeisances and accepting their blessings, a purifying bath and did he perform his daily duties. (29) In worship having circumambulated that best of positions and also having proved his respects to the two of them, he with his form lighting up like gold, was ready to board the heavenly vehicle. (30) Then the son of Uttânapâda could see death personified approaching him and putting his feet on his head, he ascended that wonder as big as a house. (31) At that moment kettledrums and mrdanga's [drums of worship] and small drums and such resounded while the singers of liberation sang and flowers showered like rain. (32) As he was about to ascend to the abode of heaven, Dhruva instantly remembered Sunîti and thought: 'How can I go to the world over the worlds leaving behind my poor mother?' (33) Understanding what Dhruva was concerned about, did the two superior ones of enlightenment show him how she before him was on the path of reaching her divinity. (34) On his way passing one after another all the heavenly spheres around he was covered by even more flowers that the enlightened ones here and there from their own elevated positions threw on him. (35) Surpassing the three worlds traveling by God, he even went beyond the great sages, after which the accomplished Dhruva then achieved the refuge of Vishnu. (36) For certain only those who constantly engage in welfare activities consequently radiate, reaching that place that by its self-effulgence illuminates everywhere all the three worlds; not the ones who have not realized to be merciful to other living beings. (37) Peaceful, equipoised, pure and pleasing to all living beings they easily reach, befriended with His devotees, the abode of the Infallible One. (38) Thus became Dhruva, the son of Uttânapâda, on the supreme path of Krishna, as pure as the summit-jewel of the three worlds. (39) With great force and speed unceasingly connected encircles the sphere of the luminaries [the galaxy] that place, o Kaurava [Vidura's family name], like a herd of bulls around a central pole.


(40) Observing Dhruva's glories was the saintly and Great Lord Nârada, playing his stringed instrument, chanting verses in the sacrificial arena of the Pracetâ's. (41) Nârada sang: 'Thanks to especially the austerity of this son of Sunîti, who is so devoted to her husband, can we see the way to that position, whereas of what one calls the followers of the Vedas one is never certain of being eligible, not to speak of the normal protectors of the people. (42) He who at the age of five years, aggrieved about the harsh words of the wife of his father, in pursuance of my instruction, so very much pained in his heart went to the forest, won over the Supreme Master, winning with the qualities of His devotees. (43) Within a short while after pleasing the Lord of Vaikunthha he attained that refuge being only five or six years old, whereas any other can not even expect to attain on earth the exalted position of this son of a kshatriya, Dhruva, after many, many of such years.' 


(44) Maitreya said: 'Whatever that you asked me here about the greatly uplifting character of Dhruva, whose reputation is hailed by the great devotees, I have explained to you. (45) It bestows wealth and repute, increases one's lifespan and is so sacred and auspicious that one can even attain to Dhruva's heaven with it, pleasing as it is to the mind and glorious in counteracting all kinds of sin. (46) Hearing this repeatedly with faith one develops devotional activities dear to the Infallible One, from which there must be the full defeat of all hindrances. (47) For the hearers who desire greatness, high character and the qualities is this the process in which the prowess is found as well as the adoration so desired by those who are thoughtful. (48) One should carefully recite in the morning and the evening in the company of the converted, the sacred renown and great character of Dhruva. (49-50) On a full moon or a new moon, on the day after Ekâdas'î [the twelfth of a lunar month], when the S'ravana Star appears, at the end of the tithi [the fifteenth day], at a day called Vyatîpâta, at the end of the month or on a holiday, one should recite it to a receptive audience, taking shelter of the Lotusfeet of the Refuge of the Seeker, without desiring remuneration; then one will find one's mind pacified by the soul and will one thus become perfect. (51) It is the knowledge to the ones unaware of the reality; he who imparts it is on the path of truth and immortality and as the kind protector of the seekers he will be blessed by the gods. (52) O great one among the Kuru's, thus was my description of the activities, the fame and the very pure of Dhruva, who as a child, giving up his playthings and his mother, went away from his home and found the shelter of Lord Vishnu'."

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