The
Story of Dhruva, in text and pictures.
(Source: Srîmad
Bhâgavatam, Canto 4, Ch.
8-13)
[Maitreya
said] .......(6) Now following, I will
describe the dynasty famous for its virtuous
activities, o best of the Kuru's, that evolved
from the Manu called Svâyambhuva, who was
a part of a plenary portion [knowing
Brahmâ] of the Personality of
Godhead. (7) Uttânapâda and
Priyavrata, the two sons of Queen Satarupa 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, seeing
his father looking on as a silent witness, upon
which weeping he went to where his mother was.
(15) Having heard from the others what had
happened did Sunîti lift her heavily
breathing son, who's lips were trembling, on her
lap and did she grieve about what was said by
her co-wife. (16) Losing her composure the woman
lamented with a fire of grief that burnt like
dry leaves in remembrance of the things said by
the other wife and looking through the tears
falling from her beautiful lotus face she spoke.
(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 to happen to others. (18) The
truth of what mother Suruci has told you about
having taken birth from the womb of me the
unfortunate one and having grown up from the
milk of that breast, is that the king has become
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 Adhoksaja, the
Transcendence, my dear son, without being
envious, as 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
receiving the qualifications to create, from
worshiping the One of whom we know the lotusfeet
and who can be approached by the ones who
conquered the mind in selfregulation. (21)
Likewise, found the Manu, your worshipable
grandfather, 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, his liberation thereafter. (22)
Of
Him, the Kind One taking care, my dear boy, you
should take shelter as also persons desiring
liberation have to seek the lotus feet; when
there is no room for doubt there should, from
ones original nature, be a systematic engaging
of ones mind in devotional service to the
Original Personality of
God.
(23) Looking for others who could mitigate your
difficulties I know of no one else to go for but
for Him, the lotus-eyed One, my dearest, who,
among all others, is sought by the Goddess of
Fortune, with a lotus flower in her hand,
herself.'
(24) Maitreya said: 'Thus having heard the
purposeful words of the mother he, carefully
considering it to himself, left his fathers
house. (25) Nârada who came to hear about
it and knew of 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, has taken at heart the
unpalatable words that came from his
stepmother.' (27) Nârada then said:
'Why
is it my dear boy, that presently finding no
respect being insulted I cannot see the
attachment to sports and games normal for boys
like you?
(28) There is no reason to be so dissatisfied
for a person free from illusion; each is
different in this world according his own karma
and thus there are different choices. (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) Therefore isn't
it, as I am convinced so, 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) So now, stop with this resolve
of yours, it will take you nowhere. Just reserve
that for the future, you will see that there
will then be ample opportunities for yourself.
(33) Any person who is satisfied with whatever
happiness or distress that is set for him by
destiny, can reach with his embodied soul the
other side 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
tribulation.'
(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) The spirit of the ruler is not so much of
submission, considering the intolerance I met
with Queen Suruci; thus I cannot tolerate it to
be pierced by the arrows of the harsh words.
(37) Please tell me an honest way that fits with
my desire for a superior position in the three
worlds, o brahmin, that not even others like my
father, grandfather and forefathers could
acquire. (38) Your Honor, of Lord Brahmâ
you are born as a true part playing the
vîna traveling like the sun all over the
world for its welfare.'
(39) Maitreya
said: 'Thus hearing of 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 holy of the Madhuvana forest
where one is always nearer to the Lord. (43)
When you have taken a bath in that river there,
the Kâlindî [the name of the
mountain where the Yamuna rises], three
times a day, which is very auspicious performed
the right way, 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 ones
thinking to the life's air and the senses, one
should with an undisturbed mind meditate upon
the supreme spiritual master. (45) Always
willing to grace, with His pleasing mouth and
way of looking, his straight nose, high brows
and intelligent forehead, he is the beauty of
the demigods. (46) Youthful, attractive in all
his limbs and with lips as red as a rising sun,
He is the shelter of the surrendered,
transcendental in every respect; the worthy one
merciful like the ocean. (47) Marked with the
srîvatsa [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 quietude 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 of the nails of His lotus feet. (51)
One should this way regularly see the Lord His
smiling, so affectionate with the devotees and
thus in full attention with ones mind meditate
on the greatest of all benedictors. (52) The
mind thus meditating the very auspicious form of
the Supreme Lord is, being enriched, very soon
freed from all material contamination and will
never come down from that.
(53) Please
hear from me the very, very confidential mantra
to chant, o prince, from which, done for a seven
nights, a person can see the beauty of the
beyond. (54) 'Om
Namo Bhagavate
Vâsudevâya' -
MP3
- [my respects for Vâsudeva, the
Supreme Lord]; with this mantra [called
the dvâdasâksara-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, time and the
country [desa kala vibhaga-vit]. (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 tulsi-leaves, which are very dear to
the Lord your master. (56) One can begin with
getting oneself 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 your
speech and eat frugally from whatever the forest
offers. (57) To that one should 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 ones heart,
for sure should respect with the mantra's, as
they are the embodiment of them. (59-60) Thus
with ones body, mind and words simply thinking
of the Lord engaged in the service is 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
purusârtha's] of conditioned souls.
(61) In complete detachment from all
sense-gratification must one, being serious in
bhakti-yoga about ones liberation, unrelenting
exercise 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 did
he go 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, I have, 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 who's face is like a lotus, hasn't,
emaciated of hunger, in fatigue lying down, been
devoured by wolves. (67) Alas, how cruel I was,
being conquered by a woman; just imagine how
most hard hearted I refused him the affection
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 over all the
world. (69) The boy is quite capable; after
performing what is impossible for even the
greatest around, he will, to the better of your
reputation, directly come back to you, my dear
King.'
(70) Maitreya
Muni said: 'The king, hearing of what
Nârada had told him, began to think about
him and fell in neglect about 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
it. (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, having daily food prepared 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 Sloka. (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, did the
son of the king, meditating on the Creator,
stand on one leg like a column without moving.
(77) In all respects concentrating the mind in
the heart, meditating the resting place for the
senses and their objects, did he not look for
anything else but the form of the Supreme
Lord. (78) Finding his repose, having
taken into the heart the Absolute, the complete
of the reality, the primary principle and person
of all, all the three worlds began to tremble.
(79) As he remained standing on the one leg did
he, the child of the king, press half 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) Thus he, in the
full of his meditation having stopped his
breathing, closing all gates of the body
confining the life's air, suffocated 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, seeing the flow of the universal
breath obstructed; You as the reservoir of all
existence, so kind to the needy, we all, taking
shelter with Your Honor, therefore approach to
save us from the calamity.'
(82) The
Supreme Lord replied: 'Fear not, this choking of
the life's 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.'
(1)
Maitreya said: 'They, thus being freed from all
fear, offered the Lord of the extraordinary
their obeisances, upon which they returned to
their three worlds. The Lord with the thousand
faces [Sahasrasîrsâ, the
original Vishnu] then from there went away
to the Madhuvana forest desirous to see him, His
servant [Dhruva]. (2) He who from the
maturity of his meditation was seeing Him,
brilliant as lightening manifested on the lotus
of his heart, all of a sudden noticed that He
had disappeared, but looking around he could see
Him there outside of him in the same form. (3)
With
Him present before him, he, confounded, fell to
the ground; prostrating his body like a rod
offering Him his obeisances and while looking at
Him, was the boy as if he was drinking Him, like
he was kissing Him with his mouth and embracing
Him with his arms.
(4) Seeing
that he wanted to glorify Him, but lacked in
experience to do so, did the Lord, who is the
prayer in accord with the scripture in the heart
of each, understanding the boy, mercifully touch
his forehead with His conchshell. (5) By that
receiving the inspiration to be able to say just
what he wanted, could he, offering his prayers
in the love of his devotion, understand what the
supreme of the soul was all about and that,
without jumping to conclusions, he would be the
Dhruva of renown and fame who could not be
denied his own world.
(6) Dhruva
said: 'Let me offer my obeisances to You, the
Supreme Lord and Original Person, who as the One
within, from His internal potency commanding the
universal energy, entering my words and breath
has brought to life my passive senses as well as
my other limbs, my hands, legs and skin. (7)
Certainly You are the One, Supreme Lord, who,
after by his own potency creating this vast
outer world called mâyâ - that
unlimited complete of the reality with its modes
- has entered as the Original Personality,
appearing in the temporary qualities variously
the way fire does in fire wood. (8) Like a man
rising from his sleep, could the one
[Brahmâ] of surrender to You, see
this whole universe through the knowledge given
by You, o my Lord; in relation to You as the
shelter of all who desire liberation, how can
anyone who is of learning forget about Your
lotusfeet, o friend of the distressed? (9) It
suffers no doubt that for those, who under the
influence of the outer world are missing the
right conception and worship You for other
purposes, You are, as the cause of liberation
from birth and death, like a desire tree; and
You are that even for persons in hell who desire
a gratification that is only appealing to their
senses. (10) That which is the bliss of the
embodied, derived from the impersonal spirit
can't compare to the bliss derived from
meditating on Your own, You Magnificence, Your
lotus feet and the hearing of the topics from
the ones who love You. And what to say comparing
it to the bliss of those who from their high
positions have to fall down destroyed by the
sword of death? (11) I pray to enjoy the
intimate association of those who are constantly
engaged in your devotional service, o Unlimited
One, of those great devotees by whose purified
hearts one can easily cross the terrible and
vast ocean of dangers that is the material
existence; I pray that I go mad of drinking the
nectar of the stories about Your qualities. (12)
They,
so high, my dear Lord, never think of the
material body, their relating to their sons,
friends, home, wealth and wife; they, o One of
the Lotus Navel, have achieved the association
with those who in their hearts are always after
the fragrance of Your lotus
feet. (13)
The animals, trees, birds, reptiles, gods,
demons and men, driven by the material energy
are found throughout the gross of the universe
in varieties of existence and are for several
reasons seen and not seen, o Unborn One, that I
know, but this I do not; from this
transcendental form, O Supreme One, I do not
know but the end of my argument. (14) At the end
of each epoch is all of this universe withdrawn
in the belly of the Supreme Person lying down in
retrospect in the company of Ananta Sesa as His
bed; from the ocean of His navel sprouted the
golden sphere, with Brahmâ on the whorl of
the lotus. Him, that Supreme Lordship I do offer
my obeisances. (15) You are the eternal of
liberation, the uncontaminated, the Supreme Soul
full of knowledge, the changeless, the authentic
Original Person, the Supreme Lord and ruler of
the three modes, the continuing intelligence
through all actions of the intellect, the
transcendental vision and witness, the
maintainer, enjoyer and the one that is
different from all. (16) You, in whose opposite
nature the various energies of knowledge and
ignorance are always found and who is that
continuing Brahman, the cause of the material
manifestation, the original one and unlimited
that is simply blissful, I offer my respects.
(17) Compared to other benedictions are Your
lotus feet for sure the true one, o my Lord, and
although as such You are thus the
personification of the goal of life of each
person, o beloved Fortunate One, you do, eager
to bestow your mercy, maintain the poor of heart
like I am, the way a cow does a
calf.'
(18) Maitreya
said: 'Then, thus truly being worshiped by the
fine intelligence of his good intentions only,
did the Supreme Lord who is always in favor of
his devotees, speak after first having
congratulated him. (19) The Supreme Lord said:
'I know of the determination within your heart,
o Son of the King. Since you are sworn to piety,
I shall give to you, although it is difficult to
fulfill, all that good fortune. (20-21) Never,
My good boy was there such a brightly glowing
place known as the planet of Dhruva, around
which all the other planets and constellations
of stars are circling like a group of bulls does
stationary around a central pole [for
crushing grain]. It is the planet around
which, keeping it to their right, along with the
stars, all great sages of the forest, whose
lives stretch beyond a millennium, like Dharma,
Agni, Kasyapa and Sukra, move circumambulating.
(22) As
soon as your father has left for the forest,
will you be awarded the whole world. It will be
under the pious protection of your rule for
thirty-six thousand years without decay in the
full sense of
power.
(23) When your brother Uttama, being killed in
hunting, is sought in the forest by the all too
afflicted mother, will she run into a forest
fire. (24) After performing great sacrifices for
Me, the heart of all sacrifice, and having
distributed great charities, you will also,
after having enjoyed the blessings within this
world, at the end of your life be able to
remember Me. (25) Thereafter you will head for
My abode that is worshiped on all planets and is
situated above those of the rishi's and having
gone there, you will never come
back.'
(26) Maitreya
said: 'Thus, after assuring the boy His personal
protection, did He the honored and worshiped
Supreme Lord who has Garuda in His flag, with
him looking on, return to His own place. (27)
Although with the result of service Dhruva had
of his determination achieved the feet of
Vishnu, was he not very pleased with the
satisfaction obtained and did he return
home.'
(28) Vidura
said: 'Why is it that he, with the very
affectionate worship of His lotus feet obtaining
the in one lifetime rarely achieved supreme
position of the Lord, having reached that far,
being so wise, felt not fulfilled within his
heart ?
(29) Maitreya
replied: 'Of his stepmother her harsh words he
was pierced in his heart and remembering them
all he did not desire liberation from the Lord
of salvation and thus he suffered grief. (30)
Dhruva said to himself: 'What by their trance
the four Kumâra's, those infallible
celibates, never could achieve in one birth,
I've understood within six months, but achieving
the shelter of His lotusfeet I fell down because
I had my mind on other things than Him. (31) Oh
alas, just see the unfortunate of my bodily
consciousness; having approached the lotus feet
of Him who can cut all bonds, I have prayed for
that which is perishable. (32) My intelligence
was contaminated by those intolerant ones of God
who are doomed to fall down and so I most
ignorantly could not accept the truth of the
instructions of Nârada. (33) Like dreaming
in my sleep I sought my refuge with the illusory
energy of the divine, complaining from within my
heart; seeing it in opposition I, under the
influence of the outer world, lamented that my
brother was my enemy, although he is just of the
temporary. (34) This, what was prayed for by me,
is as useless as treatment given to someone
whose life has already ended; after satisfying
the Soul of the Universe by austerities, which
is very difficult to do, I prayed with the One
of Cutting with the World, for a repetition of
birth and death and are thus without fortune.
(35) From Him, willing to offer me His full
independence I, alas, of material foolishness,
asked for material prosperity; it is like a poor
man who asks a great emperor that is impressed
by his virtue, for a few broken grains of husked
rice.'
(36) Maitreya
continued: 'My dear Vidura, for sure are
persons, like yourself, who are eager to taste
the dust of the lotus feet of the Lord of
Liberation, in serving Him, of no interest for
themselves after that which is automatically
achieved by it; they consider themselves very
rich. (37) Having heard that his son had
returned as if he came back after dying, could
king Uttânapâda, not believe it why
a sinner like him would befall such a good
fortune. (38) Keeping faith in the words
of devarishi Nârada, he was overwhelmed by
the tidings the messenger brought and being very
satisfied, he offered him a highly valuable
pearl necklace. (39-40) Very eager to see his
son, he in great haste got on a gold ornamented
chariot drawn by the finest horses and left,
accompanied by the sound of conchshells,
kettledrums, flutes and the chanting of hymns,
the city together with brahmins, the elderly and
his officers, ministers and friends. (41) Both
his queens Sunîci and Suruci got, hung
with gold, together with Uttama on a palanquin
and joined the procession.(42-43)
Seeing
him approaching a small forest nearby, the king
hurried down from his chariot and was
immediately overwhelmed with love as he came
near him. Emotional of his great anxiety he with
both his arms for a long time embraced his son,
whose bondage of endless material contamination
was destroyed by the Lord His lotus
feet. (44)
Thereupon smelling his head over and over, he,
seeing his greatest desire fulfilled, bathed his
son with the water cool from his eyes. (45)
After respecting his fathers feet receiving his
blessings, he bowed his head to his two mothers
and was honored by the foremost of the nobles.
(46) Suruci, having picked him up as the
innocent boy fell at her feet, embraced him and
spoke, choked up with tears, to him the words:
'May you live long'. (47) Anyone with whose
qualities and friendship the Supreme
Personality, Lord Hari, is pleased; unto him do
all living beings, like water of itself flowing
to the lowest position, offer respect. (48)
Uttama and Dhruva both overwhelmed with
affection embraced one another over and over,
with their hairs standing up, while they let
their tears run freely. (49) Sunîti, his
mother, embracing her son more dear to her then
her life air, gave, being satisfied touching his
body, up all grief. (50) There and then, o
heroic one, he was wetted auspiciously by the
incessant tears from the eyes and the milk that
started flowing from the breasts of the mother
of this hero. (51) The people around offered
her, the Queen, praise: 'The fortune of your son
will vanquish all your pains now he has returned
in order to protect the face of this earth,
after being lost for such a long time. (52) The
Supreme Lord, who can deliver one from the
greatest danger, must have been honored by you,
conquering death so difficult to overcome, as do
great saints meditating constantly on
Him.'
(53) Dhruva,
thus praised by the people around, was by the
king together with his brother placed on the
back of a she-elephant and that way pleased and
glorified, he returned to his capital. (54) Here
and there, from rows of banana trees and young
betel nut trees, were set up brilliant arched
gateways that looked shark-toothed with bunches
of flowers and fruits. (55) At each gate there
was the decoration of hanging mango leaves,
cloth, flower garlands and strings of pearls
together with pots filled with water and burning
lamps. (56) With its surrounding walls, city
gates and houses, were the domes of the palace
glittering on all sides, beautifully decorated
with golden ornaments. (57) The squares, lanes
and rooftops were thoroughly cleansed and
sprinkled with sandalwood water and provided
with auspicious presentations of fried rice,
barley, flowers and fruits. (58-59) Seeing
Dhruva on the road here and there the woman of
the houses, uttering affectionate blessings,
showered him with white mustard seeds, barley,
curd, water, fresh grass, flowers and fruits and
thus hearing their very pleasant songs he
entered the palace of his father. (60) In that
fine mansion bedecked with inlays of precious
stones he, always being lifted up to the divine
by his father, lived there like a god. (61) It
had seats and furniture of gold with very
valuable ivory beds with golden embellishments
and bedding white like the foam of milk.
(62) The walls, made of marble, had precious
gems in them and also the lamps that shone with
jewels were held by female figurines made of
precious stones as well. (63) Also the gardens
were very beautiful with various heavenly trees,
pairs of singing birds and the humming of mad
bumblebees. (64) Emerald staircases lead to
ponds full of lilies and blue lotuses, swans and
ducks and flocks of geese and cranes dwelt
nearby.
(65) The
saintly king Uttânapâda under the
influence of hearing and seeing his totally
wonderful son, felt extremely happy about the
supreme of his wonder. (66) When he saw that
Dhruva was mature enough of age made the king
him, with the approval of his loving subjects
and ministers, the master of the world. (67) He,
this king of Vishnu, pondering over the
salvation of his own soul, considered himself
also old enough and went detached into the
forest.
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