Dhruva Maharaja Goes Back to Godhead

Verse 1 (bhagavata.4.12.1)

मैत्रेय उवाच ध्रुवं निवृत्तं प्रतिबुद्ध्य वैशसा- दपेतमन्युं भगवान्धनेश्वरः । तत्रागतश्चारणयक्षकिन्नरैः संस्तूयमानो न्यवदत्कृताञ्जलिम् ॥ 12.1 ॥

maitreya uvāca dhruvaṁ nivṛttaṁ pratibuddhya vaiśasād apeta-manyuṁ bhagavān dhaneśvaraḥ tatrāgataś cāraṇa-yakṣa-kinnaraiḥ saṁstūyamāno nyavadat kṛtāñjalim

Maitreya said: When Bhagavan, the Lord of wealth, learned that Dhruva had come to himself, his anger spent and his slaughter ceased, he came there, praised by Charanas, Yakshas and Kinnaras, and spoke to him as he stood with folded hands.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.4.12.2)

धनद उवाच भो भोः क्षत्रियदायाद परितुष्टोऽस्मि तेऽनघ । यत्त्वं पितामहादेशाद्वैरं दुस्त्यजमत्यजः ॥ 12.2 ॥

dhanada uvāca bhoḥ bhoḥ kṣatriya-dāyāda parituṣṭo ’smi te ’nagha yat tvaṁ pitāmahādeśād vairaṁ dustyajam atyajaḥ

The Lord of wealth said: O sinless scion of the Kshatriyas, I am well pleased that at your grandfather's word you have relinquished an enmity so hard to relinquish.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.4.12.3)

न भवानवधीद्यक्षान्न यक्षा भ्रातरं तव । काल एव हि भूतानां प्रभुरप्ययभावयोः ॥ 12.3 ॥

na bhavān avadhīd yakṣān na yakṣā bhrātaraṁ tava kāla eva hi bhūtānāṁ prabhur apyaya-bhāvayoḥ

You did not slay the Yakshas, nor did they slay your brother — for time alone is the true lord over the birth and dissolution of all beings.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.4.12.4)

अहं त्वमित्यपार्था धीरज्ञानात्पुरुषस्य हि । स्वाप्नीवाभात्यतद्ध्यानाद्यया बन्धविपर्ययौ ॥ 12.4 ॥

ahaṁ tvam ity apārthā dhīr ajñānāt puruṣasya hi svāpnīvābhāty atad-dhyānād yayā bandha-viparyayau

The false notion of "I" and "you," born of ignorance about the body, appears real like a dream, though it is not, and from meditating on it arise bondage and its apparent opposite.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.4.12.5)

तद्गच्छ ध्रुव भद्रं ते भगवन्तमधोक्षजम् । सर्वभूतात्मभावेन सर्वभूतात्मविग्रहम् ॥ 12.5 ॥

tad gaccha dhruva bhadraṁ te bhagavantam adhokṣajam sarva-bhūtātma-bhāvena sarva-bhūtātma-vigraham

Go now, Dhruva, may all good befall you; go to Bhagavan, beyond the senses, who as the Self of all beings dwells embodied within every creature.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.4.12.6)

भजस्व भजनीयाङ्घ्रि मभवाय भवच्छिदम् । युक्तं विरहितं शक्त्या गुणमय्यात्ममायया ॥ 12.6 ॥

bhajasva bhajanīyāṅghrim abhavāya bhava-cchidam yuktaṁ virahitaṁ śaktyā guṇa-mayyātma-māyayā

Worship those feet worthy of worship, which grant freedom from rebirth and sever it altogether — that Lord who is joined to His own material potency composed of the modes, yet ever free of her.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.4.12.7)

वृणीहि कामं नृप यन्मनोगतं मत्तस्त्वमौत्तानपदेऽविशङ्कितः । वरं वरार्होऽम्बुजनाभपादयो- रनन्तरं त्वां वयमङ्ग शुश्रुम ॥ 12.7 ॥

vṛṇīhi kāmaṁ nṛpa yan mano-gataṁ mattas tvam auttānapade ’viśaṅkitaḥ varaṁ varārho ’mbuja-nābha-pādayor anantaraṁ tvāṁ vayam aṅga śuśruma

O King, son of Uttanapada, ask without hesitation from me whatever desire lies in your heart; we have heard of you, so worthy of a boon, that you are ever intent upon the feet of the lotus-naveled Lord.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.4.12.8)

मैत्रेय उवाच स राजराजेन वराय चोदितो ध्रुवो महाभागवतो महामतिः । हरौ स वव्रेऽचलितां स्मृतिं यया तरत्ययत्नेन दुरत्ययं तमः ॥ 12.8 ॥

maitreya uvāca sa rāja-rājena varāya codito dhruvo mahā-bhāgavato mahā-matiḥ harau sa vavre ’calitāṁ smṛtiṁ yayā taraty ayatnena duratyayaṁ tamaḥ

Maitreya continued: Thus invited by the King of kings to accept a boon, Dhruva, that great devotee of profound wisdom, chose of Hari an unwavering remembrance, by which one crosses, without effort, that darkness otherwise so hard to cross.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.4.12.9)

तस्य प्रीतेन मनसा तां दत्त्वैडविडस्ततः । पश्यतोऽन्तर्दधे सोऽपि स्वपुरं प्रत्यपद्यत ॥ 12.9 ॥

tasya prītena manasā tāṁ dattvaiḍaviḍas tataḥ paśyato ’ntardadhe so ’pi sva-puraṁ pratyapadyata

The son of Idavida, well pleased at heart, granted him that boon and, before his very eyes, vanished; Dhruva then returned to his own city.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.4.12.10)

अथायजत यज्ञेशं क्रतुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणैः । द्रव्यक्रियादेवतानां कर्म कर्मफलप्रदम् ॥ 12.10 ॥

athāyajata yajñeśaṁ kratubhir bhūri-dakṣiṇaiḥ dravya-kriyā-devatānāṁ karma karma-phala-pradam

Thereafter he worshiped the Lord of sacrifice with rites of rich offering — that action which, through substance, ritual and deity, bestows the fruit of action itself.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.4.12.11)

सर्वात्मन्यच्युतेऽसर्वे तीव्रौघां भक्तिमुद्वहन् । ददर्शात्मनि भूतेषु तमेवावस्थितं विभुम् ॥ 12.11 ॥

sarvātmany acyute ’sarve tīvraughāṁ bhaktim udvahan dadarśātmani bhūteṣu tam evāvasthitaṁ vibhum

Bearing an intense and unbroken devotion toward the infallible Self of all, he beheld that same all-pervading Lord established both within his own self and within all beings.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.4.12.12)

तमेवं शीलसम्पन्नं ब्रह्मण्यं दीनवत्सलम् । गोप्तारं धर्मसेतूनां मेनिरे पितरं प्रजाः ॥ 12.12 ॥

tam evaṁ śīla-sampannaṁ brahmaṇyaṁ dīna-vatsalam goptāraṁ dharma-setūnāṁ menire pitaraṁ prajāḥ

The people regarded him, so endowed with virtue, devoted to brahmanas, tender toward the humble and guardian of the bounds of dharma, as their very father.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.4.12.13)

षट्त्रिंशद्वर्षसाहस्रं शशास क्षितिमण्डलम् । भोगैः पुण्यक्षयं कुर्वन्नभोगैरशुभक्षयम् ॥ 12.13 ॥

ṣaṭ-triṁśad-varṣa-sāhasraṁ śaśāsa kṣiti-maṇḍalam bhogaiḥ puṇya-kṣayaṁ kurvann abhogair aśubha-kṣayam

For thirty-six thousand years he ruled the circle of the earth, exhausting the store of his piety through enjoyment and the store of his impiety through austerity.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.4.12.14)

एवं बहुसवं कालं महात्माविचलेन्द्रियः । त्रिवर्गौपयिकं नीत्वा पुत्रायादान्नृपासनम् ॥ 12.14 ॥

evaṁ bahu-savaṁ kālaṁ mahātmāvicalendriyaḥ tri-vargaupayikaṁ nītvā putrāyādān nṛpāsanam

Thus that great soul of unwavering senses, having for many years pursued the threefold aims of life in due measure, at last handed over the royal throne to his son.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.4.12.15)

मन्यमान इदं विश्वं मायारचितमात्मनि । अविद्यारचितस्वप्नगन्धर्वनगरोपमम् ॥ 12.15 ॥

manyamāna idaṁ viśvaṁ māyā-racitam ātmani avidyā-racita-svapna- gandharva-nagaropamam

regarding this universe as fashioned by Maya within his own Self, comparable to a dream or a city of Gandharvas conjured up by ignorance —

Verse 16 (bhagavata.4.12.16)

आत्मस्त्र्यपत्यसुहृदो बलमृद्धकोश- मन्तःपुरं परिविहारभुवश्च रम्याः । भूमण्डलं जलधिमेखलमाकलय्य कालोपसृष्टमिति स प्रययौ विशालाम् ॥ 12.16 ॥

ātma-stry-apatya-suhṛdo balam ṛddha-kośam antaḥ-puraṁ parivihāra-bhuvaś ca ramyāḥ bhū-maṇḍalaṁ jaladhi-mekhalam ākalayya kālopasṛṣṭam iti sa prayayau viśālām

Thus reckoning his body, wife, children, friends, army, overflowing treasury, inner chambers and delightful pleasure-grounds, and the whole earth girdled by the ocean, to be but the work of time, he set out for Vishala.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.4.12.17)

तस्यां विशुद्धकरणः शिववार्विगाह्य बद्ध्वासनं जितमरुन्मनसाहृताक्षः । स्थूले दधार भगवत्प्रतिरूप एतद् ध्यायंस्तदव्यवहितो व्यसृजत्समाधौ ॥ 12.17 ॥

tasyāṁ viśuddha-karaṇaḥ śiva-vār vigāhya baddhvāsanaṁ jita-marun manasāhṛtākṣaḥ sthūle dadhāra bhagavat-pratirūpa etad dhyāyaṁs tad avyavahito vyasṛjat samādhau

There, his senses fully purified, having bathed in the auspicious waters, he sat in fixed posture, conquered the breath, withdrew his mind from the eyes and other senses, and, holding within his heart the gross form of the Lord's own likeness, meditating upon it without a break, entered trance.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.4.12.18)

भक्तिं हरौ भगवति प्रवहन्नजस्र- मानन्दबाष्पकलया मुहुरर्द्यमानः । विक्लिद्यमानहृदयः पुलकाचिताङ्गो नात्मानमस्मरदसाविति मुक्तलिङ्गः ॥ 12.18 ॥

bhaktiṁ harau bhagavati pravahann ajasram ānanda-bāṣpa-kalayā muhur ardyamānaḥ viklidyamāna-hṛdayaḥ pulakācitāṅgo nātmānam asmarad asāv iti mukta-liṅgaḥ

Pouring forth ceaseless devotion for Bhagavan Hari, tears of bliss again and again welling in his eyes, his heart melting and the hair of his body standing on end, he, thus transfigured, no longer remembered his own bodily self, and so his ties to matter were undone.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.4.12.19)

स ददर्श विमानाग्र्यं नभसोऽवतरद् ध्रुवः । विभ्राजयद्दश दिशो राकापतिमिवोदितम् ॥ 12.19 ॥

sa dadarśa vimānāgryaṁ nabhaso ’vatarad dhruvaḥ vibhrājayad daśa diśo rākāpatim ivoditam

Then Dhruva saw a most splendid airship descending from the sky, illumining all ten directions as though the very lord of the full-moon night had risen.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.4.12.20)

तत्रानु देवप्रवरौ चतुर्भुजौ श्यामौ किशोरावरुणाम्बुजेक्षणौ । स्थिताववष्टभ्य गदां सुवाससौ किरीटहाराङ्गदचारुकुण्डलौ ॥ 12.20 ॥

tatrānu deva-pravarau catur-bhujau śyāmau kiśorāv aruṇāmbujekṣaṇau sthitāv avaṣṭabhya gadāṁ suvāsasau kirīṭa-hārāṅgada-cāru-kuṇḍalau

In it stood two foremost associates of the Lord, four-armed, dark-hued, youthful, their eyes like reddish lotus blossoms, bearing maces, finely robed, and adorned with crowns, garlands, armlets and lovely earrings.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.4.12.21)

विज्ञाय तावुत्तमगायकिङ्करा- वभ्युत्थितः साध्वसविस्मृतक्रमः । ननाम नामानि गृणन्मधुद्विषः पार्षत्प्रधानाविति संहताञ्जलिः ॥ 12.21 ॥

vijñāya tāv uttamagāya-kiṅkarāv abhyutthitaḥ sādhvasa-vismṛta-kramaḥ nanāma nāmāni gṛṇan madhudviṣaḥ pārṣat-pradhānāv iti saṁhatāñjaliḥ

Recognizing them as servants of Uttamashloka, he rose at once, and in his awe forgot the due order of reception; folding his hands, he simply bowed, uttering the names of the Slayer of Madhu.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.4.12.22)

तं कृष्णपादाभिनिविष्टचेतसं बद्धाञ्जलिं प्रश्रयनम्रकन्धरम् । सुनन्दनन्दावुपसृत्य सस्मितं प्रत्यूचतुः पुष्करनाभसम्मतौ ॥ 12.22 ॥

taṁ kṛṣṇa-pādābhiniviṣṭa-cetasaṁ baddhāñjaliṁ praśraya-namra-kandharam sunanda-nandāv upasṛtya sasmitaṁ pratyūcatuḥ puṣkaranābha-sammatau

To him whose mind was fixed on the feet of Krishna, hands folded, neck bowed in humility, Nanda and Sunanda, held dear by the lotus-naveled Lord, approached smiling and spoke.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.4.12.23)

सुनन्दनन्दावूचतुः भो भो राजन्सुभद्रं ते वाचं नोऽवहितः शृणु । यः पञ्चवर्षस्तपसा भवान्देवमतीतृपत् ॥ 12.23 ॥

sunanda-nandāv ūcatuḥ bho bho rājan subhadraṁ te vācaṁ no ’vahitaḥ śṛṇu yaḥ pañca-varṣas tapasā bhavān devam atītṛpat

Nanda and Sunanda said: O King, all good fortune to you; listen attentively to our words. At five years of age you satisfied the Lord, who is beyond even the gods, through austerity.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.4.12.24)

तस्याखिलजगद्धातुरावां देवस्य शार्ङ्गिणः । पार्षदाविह सम्प्राप्तौ नेतुं त्वां भगवत्पदम् ॥ 12.24 ॥

tasyākhila-jagad-dhātur āvāṁ devasya śārṅgiṇaḥ pārṣadāv iha samprāptau netuṁ tvāṁ bhagavat-padam

We two are attendants of that Lord who bears the bow Sharnga, the creator of the entire universe; we have come here to lead you to the abode of Bhagavan.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.4.12.25)

सुदुर्जयं विष्णुपदं जितं त्वया यत्सूरयोऽप्राप्य विचक्षते परम् । आतिष्ठ तच्चन्द्रदिवाकरादयो ग्रहर्क्षताराः परियन्ति दक्षिणम् ॥ 12.25 ॥

sudurjayaṁ viṣṇu-padaṁ jitaṁ tvayā yat sūrayo ’prāpya vicakṣate param ātiṣṭha tac candra-divākarādayo graharkṣa-tārāḥ pariyanti dakṣiṇam

The abode of Vishnu, so hard to conquer, you have conquered — that supreme state which even the wise, without attaining it, can only speak of from afar. Ascend now, that realm which the sun, moon, planets, constellations and stars all circle round on their right.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.4.12.26)

अनास्थितं ते पितृभिरन्यैरप्यङ्ग कर्हिचित् । आतिष्ठ जगतां वन्द्यं तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् ॥ 12.26 ॥

anāsthitaṁ te pitṛbhir anyair apy aṅga karhicit ātiṣṭha jagatāṁ vandyaṁ tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam

Neither your forefathers nor any other before you, O King, ever attained it; ascend now to that supreme abode of Vishnu, worshiped by all the worlds.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.4.12.27)

एतद्विमानप्रवरमुत्तमश्लोकमौलिना । उपस्थापितमायुष्मन्नधिरोढुं त्वमर्हसि ॥ 12.27 ॥

etad vimāna-pravaram uttamaśloka-maulinā upasthāpitam āyuṣmann adhiroḍhuṁ tvam arhasi

This foremost of airships has been sent by the crowned Lord of unfailing renown himself, O long-lived one — you are indeed worthy to ascend it.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.4.12.28)

मैत्रेय उवाच निशम्य वैकुण्ठनियोज्यमुख्ययो- र्मधुच्युतं वाचमुरुक्रमप्रियः । कृताभिषेकः कृतनित्यमङ्गलो मुनीन् प्रणम्याशिषमभ्यवादयत् ॥ 12.28 ॥

maitreya uvāca niśamya vaikuṇṭha-niyojya-mukhyayor madhu-cyutaṁ vācam urukrama-priyaḥ kṛtābhiṣekaḥ kṛta-nitya-maṅgalo munīn praṇamyāśiṣam abhyavādayat

Maitreya continued: Hearing this honey-sweet speech from those two foremost servants of Vaikuntha, Dhruva, so dear to the Lord of uncommon deeds, took his sacred bath, performed his customary auspicious rites, and, bowing to the sages there, received their blessings.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.4.12.29)

परीत्याभ्यर्च्य धिष्ण्याग्र्यं पार्षदावभिवन्द्य च । इयेष तदधिष्ठातुं बिभ्रद्रूपं हिरण्मयम् ॥ 12.29 ॥

parītyābhyarcya dhiṣṇyāgryaṁ pārṣadāv abhivandya ca iyeṣa tad adhiṣṭhātuṁ bibhrad rūpaṁ hiraṇmayam

Circling and worshiping that finest of vehicles, and bowing before the two associates, he prepared to board it, his own form now taking on a golden radiance.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.4.12.30)

तदोत्तानपदः पुत्रो ददर्शान्तकमागतम् । मृत्योर्मूर्ध्नि पदं दत्त्वा आरुरोहाद्भुतं गृहम् ॥ 12.30 ॥

tadottānapadaḥ putro dadarśāntakam āgatam mṛtyor mūrdhni padaṁ dattvā ārurohādbhutaṁ gṛham

Then the son of Uttanapada saw Death himself approach; setting his foot upon the very head of death, he ascended that wondrous mansion-like vessel.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.4.12.31)

तदा दुन्दुभयो नेदुर्मृदङ्गपणवादयः । गन्धर्वमुख्याः प्रजगुः पेतुः कुसुमवृष्टयः ॥ 12.31 ॥

tadā dundubhayo nedur mṛdaṅga-paṇavādayaḥ gandharva-mukhyāḥ prajaguḥ petuḥ kusuma-vṛṣṭayaḥ

Then kettledrums, mridangas and panavas resounded, the chief Gandharvas sang, and showers of flowers rained down.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.4.12.32)

स च स्वर्लोकमारोक्ष्यन् सुनीतिं जननीं ध्रुवः । अन्वस्मरदगं हित्वा दीनां यास्ये त्रिविष्टपम् ॥ 12.32 ॥

sa ca svarlokam ārokṣyan sunītiṁ jananīṁ dhruvaḥ anvasmarad agaṁ hitvā dīnāṁ yāsye tri-viṣṭapam

As he was about to rise to the heavenly world, Dhruva remembered his poor mother Sunīti: "Shall I go to the celestial realm, forsaking her in her sorrow?"

Verse 33 (bhagavata.4.12.33)

इति व्यवसितं तस्य व्यवसाय सुरोत्तमौ । दर्शयामासतुर्देवीं पुरो यानेन गच्छतीम् ॥ 12.33 ॥

iti vyavasitaṁ tasya vyavasāya surottamau darśayām āsatur devīṁ puro yānena gacchatīm

Perceiving this resolve of his, those two foremost of gods showed him the goddess, his mother, going on ahead in another chariot.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.4.12.34)

तत्र तत्र प्रशंसद्भिः पथि वैमानिकैः सुरैः । अवकीर्यमाणो ददृशे कुसुमैः क्रमशो ग्रहान् ॥ 12.34 ॥

tatra tatra praśaṁsadbhiḥ pathi vaimānikaiḥ suraiḥ avakīryamāṇo dadṛśe kusumaiḥ kramaśo grahān

As he journeyed on, the celestial travelers along the way praised him from every side, showering him with flowers, and he beheld the planets one after another.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.4.12.35)

त्रिलोकीं देवयानेन सोऽतिव्रज्य मुनीनपि । परस्ताद्यद् ध्रुवगतिर्विष्णोः पदमथाभ्यगात् ॥ 12.35 ॥

tri-lokīṁ deva-yānena so ’tivrajya munīn api parastād yad dhruva-gatir viṣṇoḥ padam athābhyagāt

Passing by that celestial path beyond the three worlds and even beyond the abode of the great sages, he, whose course was fixed, at last reached the very abode of Vishnu.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.4.12.36)

यद्भ्राजमानं स्वरुचैव सर्वतो लोकास्त्रयो ह्यनु विभ्राजन्त एते । यन्नाव्रजञ्जन्तुषु येऽननुग्रहा व्रजन्ति भद्राणि चरन्ति येऽनिशम् ॥ 12.36 ॥

yad bhrājamānaṁ sva-rucaiva sarvato lokās trayo hy anu vibhrājanta ete yan nāvrajañ jantuṣu ye ’nanugrahā vrajanti bhadrāṇi caranti ye ’niśam

That realm, self-luminous, by whose own radiance the three worlds themselves shine reflected — that region the merciless, those without kindness for other beings, cannot reach; only they who ceaselessly do good attain it.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.4.12.37)

शान्ताः समदृशः शुद्धाः सर्वभूतानुरञ्जनाः । यान्त्यञ्जसाच्युतपदमच्युतप्रियबान्धवाः ॥ 12.37 ॥

śāntāḥ sama-dṛśaḥ śuddhāḥ sarva-bhūtānurañjanāḥ yānty añjasācyuta-padam acyuta-priya-bāndhavāḥ

The peaceful, the even-sighted, the pure, those who delight all beings and hold as kin only the beloved of the Infallible — they alone easily attain the abode of Achyuta.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.4.12.38)

इत्युत्तानपदः पुत्रो ध्रुवः कृष्णपरायणः । अभूत्त्रयाणां लोकानां चूडामणिरिवामलः ॥ 12.38 ॥

ity uttānapadaḥ putro dhruvaḥ kṛṣṇa-parāyaṇaḥ abhūt trayāṇāṁ lokānāṁ cūḍā-maṇir ivāmalaḥ

Thus Dhruva, the son of Uttanapada, wholly devoted to Krishna, became, spotless, the very crest-jewel of the three worlds.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.4.12.39)

गम्भीरवेगोऽनिमिषं ज्योतिषां चक्रमाहितम् । यस्मिन् भ्रमति कौरव्य मेढ्यामिव गवां गणः ॥ 12.39 ॥

gambhīra-vego ’nimiṣaṁ jyotiṣāṁ cakram āhitam yasmin bhramati kauravya meḍhyām iva gavāṁ gaṇaḥ

O descendant of Kuru, with unceasing speed the wheel of the luminaries, established in the sky, revolves around his abode, just as a herd of cattle circles round the post at its center.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.4.12.40)

महिमानं विलोक्यास्य नारदो भगवानृषिः । आतोद्यं वितुदञ्श्लोकान् सत्रेऽगायत्प्रचेतसाम् ॥ 12.40 ॥

mahimānaṁ vilokyāsya nārado bhagavān ṛṣiḥ ātodyaṁ vitudañ ślokān satre ’gāyat pracetasām

Beholding this greatness of his, the divine sage Narada, plucking his vina, sang these verses at the sacrificial assembly of the Pracetas.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.4.12.41)

नारद उवाच नूनं सुनीतेः पतिदेवताया- स्तपःप्रभावस्य सुतस्य तां गतिम् । दृष्ट्वाभ्युपायानपि वेदवादिनो नैवाधिगन्तुं प्रभवन्ति किं नृपाः ॥ 12.41 ॥

nārada uvāca nūnaṁ sunīteḥ pati-devatāyās tapaḥ-prabhāvasya sutasya tāṁ gatim dṛṣṭvābhyupāyān api veda-vādino naivādhigantuṁ prabhavanti kiṁ nṛpāḥ

Narada said: Seeing the destination reached by the son of Sunīti, so devoted to her husband, through the power of his austerity, how can even kings, let alone learned followers of the Veda, know the means to attain it?

Verse 42 (bhagavata.4.12.42)

यः पञ्चवर्षो गुरुदारवाक्शरै- र्भिन्नेन यातो हृदयेन दूयता । वनं मदादेशकरोऽजितं प्रभुं जिगाय तद्भक्तगुणैः पराजितम् ॥ 12.42 ॥

yaḥ pañca-varṣo guru-dāra-vāk-śarair bhinnena yāto hṛdayena dūyatā vanaṁ mad-ādeśa-karo ’jitaṁ prabhuṁ jigāya tad-bhakta-guṇaiḥ parājitam

He who at five years, his heart wounded by the harsh words of his stepmother, went to the forest at my own bidding, conquered by the very virtues of His devotees that unconquerable Lord Himself.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.4.12.43)

यः क्षत्रबन्धुर्भुवि तस्याधिरूढ- मन्वारुरुक्षेदपि वर्षपूगैः । षट्पञ्चवर्षो यदहोभिरल्पैः प्रसाद्य वैकुण्ठमवाप तत्पदम् ॥ 12.43 ॥

yaḥ kṣatra-bandhur bhuvi tasyādhirūḍham anv ārurukṣed api varṣa-pūgaiḥ ṣaṭ-pañca-varṣo yad ahobhir alpaiḥ prasādya vaikuṇṭham avāpa tat-padam

That son of a Kshatriya, whom even after many years of striving one could scarcely hope to approach, attained, in a mere five or six years, by pleasing Vaikuntha, that very state.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.4.12.44)

मैत्रेय उवाच एतत्तेऽभिहितं सर्वं यत्पृष्टोऽहमिह त्वया । ध्रुवस्योद्दामयशसश्चरितं सम्मतं सताम् ॥ 12.44 ॥

maitreya uvāca etat te ’bhihitaṁ sarvaṁ yat pṛṣṭo ’ham iha tvayā dhruvasyoddāma-yaśasaś caritaṁ sammataṁ satām

Maitreya continued: All that you asked of me, O Vidura, I have now related — this account of Dhruva's boundless fame, cherished by the saintly.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.4.12.45)

धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पुण्यं स्वस्त्ययनं महत् । स्वर्ग्यं ध्रौव्यं सौमनस्यं प्रशस्यमघमर्षणम् ॥ 12.45 ॥

dhanyaṁ yaśasyam āyuṣyaṁ puṇyaṁ svasty-ayanaṁ mahat svargyaṁ dhrauvyaṁ saumanasyaṁ praśasyam agha-marṣaṇam

This account confers wealth, fame and long life; it is holy and deeply auspicious, granting heaven, granting Dhruva's own steadfast state, gladdening the mind, worthy of praise, and destructive of sin.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.4.12.46)

श्रुत्वैतच्छ्रद्धयाभीक्ष्णमच्युतप्रियचेष्टितम् । भवेद्भक्तिर्भगवति यया स्यात्क्लेशसङ्क्षयः ॥ 12.46 ॥

śrutvaitac chraddhayābhīkṣṇam acyuta-priya-ceṣṭitam bhaved bhaktir bhagavati yayā syāt kleśa-saṅkṣayaḥ

One who hears this again and again with faith — this record of the deeds so dear to Achyuta — attains devotion to Bhagavan, by which all affliction is destroyed.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.4.12.47)

महत्त्वमिच्छतां तीर्थं श्रोतुः शीलादयो गुणाः । यत्र तेजस्तदिच्छूनां मानो यत्र मनस्विनाम् ॥ 12.47 ॥

mahattvam icchatāṁ tīrthaṁ śrotuḥ śīlādayo guṇāḥ yatra tejas tad icchūnāṁ māno yatra manasvinām

For those who desire greatness, this account is itself a place of pilgrimage; the listener gains such virtues as good character; here lies splendor for those who seek splendor, and honor for the thoughtful.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.4.12.48)

प्रयतः कीर्तयेत्प्रातः समवाये द्विजन्मनाम् । सायं च पुण्यश्लोकस्य ध्रुवस्य चरितं महत् ॥ 12.48 ॥

prayataḥ kīrtayet prātaḥ samavāye dvi-janmanām sāyaṁ ca puṇya-ślokasya dhruvasya caritaṁ mahat

One should recite, with self-control, this great account of Dhruva of holy renown, morning and evening, in the assembly of the twice-born.

Verse 49 (bhagavata.4.12.49)

पौर्णमास्यां सिनीवाल्यां द्वादश्यां श्रवणेऽथवा । दिनक्षये व्यतीपाते सङ्क्रमेऽर्कदिनेऽपि वा ॥ 12.49 ॥

paurṇamāsyāṁ sinīvālyāṁ dvādaśyāṁ śravaṇe ’thavā dina-kṣaye vyatīpāte saṅkrame ’rkadine ’pi vā

On the full moon, the new moon, the twelfth lunar day, upon the Shravana asterism, at the close of a tithi, during Vyatipata, at the solstice, or on Sunday too —

Verse 50 (bhagavata.4.12.50)

श्रावयेच्छ्रद्दधानानां तीर्थपादपदाश्रयः । नेच्छंस्तत्रात्मनात्मानं सन्तुष्ट इति सिध्यति ॥ 12.50 ॥

śrāvayec chraddadhānānāṁ tīrtha-pāda-padāśrayaḥ necchaṁs tatrātmanātmānaṁ santuṣṭa iti sidhyati

one who has taken refuge at the feet of the Lord of pilgrimage should recount it to the faithful, desiring nothing for himself; content within himself, thus he attains perfection.

Verse 51 (bhagavata.4.12.51)

ज्ञानमज्ञाततत्त्वाय यो दद्यात्सत्पथेऽमृतम् । कृपालोर्दीननाथस्य देवास्तस्यानुगृह्णते ॥ 12.51 ॥

jñānam ajñāta-tattvāya yo dadyāt sat-pathe ’mṛtam kṛpālor dīna-nāthasya devās tasyānugṛhṇate

One who gives this nectar of knowledge, upon the true path, to one ignorant of the truth, out of compassion, becoming a refuge for the humble and helpless — him even the gods favor.

Verse 52 (bhagavata.4.12.52)

इदं मया तेऽभिहितं कुरूद्वहध्रुवस्य विख्यातविशुद्धकर्मणः । हित्वार्भकः क्रीडनकानि मातु-र्गृहं च विष्णुं शरणं यो जगाम ॥ 12.52 ॥

idaṁ mayā te ’bhihitaṁ kurūdvaha dhruvasya vikhyāta-viśuddha-karmaṇaḥ hitvārbhakaḥ krīḍanakāni mātur gṛhaṁ ca viṣṇuṁ śaraṇaṁ yo jagāma

O foremost of the Kurus, this have I related to you — the account of Dhruva, whose deeds, pure and renowned, are famed throughout the world: as a mere child he cast aside his playthings, left his mother's home, and took refuge in Vishnu alone.