VERSE 4.12.1
maitreya uvāca
dhruvaṁ nivṛttaṁ pratibuddhya vaiśasād
apeta-manyuṁ bhagavān dhaneśvaraḥ
tatrāgataś cāraṇa-yakṣa-kinnaraiḥ
saṁstūyamāno nyavadat kṛtāñjalim
SYNONYMS
maitreyaḥ uvāca — Maitreya said; dhruvam — Dhruva Mahārāja; nivṛttam — ceased; pratibuddhya — having learned; vaiśasāt — from killing; apeta — subsided; manyum — anger; bhagavān — Kuvera; dhana-īśvaraḥ — master of the treasury; tatra — there; āgataḥ — appeared; cāraṇa — by the Cāraṇas; yakṣa — Yakṣas; kinnaraiḥ — and by the Kinnaras; saṁstūyamānaḥ — being worshiped; nyavadat — spoke; kṛta-añjalim — to Dhruva with folded hands.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Maitreya said: My dear Vidura, Dhruva Mahārāja’s anger subsided, and he completely ceased killing Yakṣas. When Kuvera, the most blessed master of the treasury, learned this news, he appeared before Dhruva. While being worshiped by Yakṣas, Kinnaras and Cāraṇas, he spoke to Dhruva Mahārāja, who stood before him with folded hands.
VERSE 4.12.2
dhanada uvāca
bhoḥ bhoḥ kṣatriya-dāyāda
parituṣṭo ’smi te ’nagha
yat tvaṁ pitāmahādeśād
vairaṁ dustyajam atyajaḥ
SYNONYMS
dhana-daḥ uvāca — the master of the treasury (Kuvera) said; bhoḥ bhoḥ — O; kṣatriya-dāyāda — O son of a kṣatriya; parituṣṭaḥ — very glad; asmi — I am; te — with you; anagha — O sinless one; yat — because; tvam — you; pitāmaha — of your grandfather; ādeśāt — under the instruction; vairam — enmity; dustyajam — difficult to avoid; atyajaḥ — have given up.
TRANSLATION
The master of the treasury, Kuvera, said: O sinless son of a kṣatriya, I am very glad to know that under the instruction of your grandfather you have given up your enmity, although it is very difficult to avoid. I am very pleased with you.
VERSE 4.12.3
na bhavān avadhīd yakṣān
na yakṣā bhrātaraṁ tava
kāla eva hi bhūtānāṁ
prabhur apyaya-bhāvayoḥ
SYNONYMS
na — not; bhavān — you; avadhīt — killed; yakṣān — the Yakṣas; na — not; yakṣāḥ — the Yakṣas; bhrātaram — brother; tava — your; kālaḥ — time; eva — certainly; hi — for; bhūtānām — of living entities; prabhuḥ — the Supreme Lord; apyaya-bhāvayoḥ — of annihilation and generation.
TRANSLATION
Actually, you have not killed the Yakṣas, nor have they killed your brother, for the ultimate cause of generation and annihilation is the eternal time feature of the Supreme Lord.
VERSE 4.12.4
ahaṁ tvam ity apārthā dhīr
ajñānāt puruṣasya hi
svāpnīvābhāty atad-dhyānād
yayā bandha-viparyayau
SYNONYMS
aham — I; tvam — you; iti — thus; apārthā — misconceived; dhīḥ — intelligence; ajñānāt — from ignorance; puruṣasya — of a person; hi — certainly; svāpni — a dream; iva — like; ābhāti — appears; a-tat-dhyānāt — from the bodily concept of life; yayā — by which; bandha — bondage; viparyayau — and misery.
TRANSLATION
Misidentification of oneself and others as “I” and “you” on the basis of the bodily concept of life is a product of ignorance. This bodily concept is the cause of repeated birth and death, and it makes us go on continuously in material existence.
VERSE 4.12.5
tad gaccha dhruva bhadraṁ te
bhagavantam adhokṣajam
sarva-bhūtātma-bhāvena
sarva-bhūtātma-vigraham
SYNONYMS
tat — therefore; gaccha — come; dhruva — Dhruva; bhadram — good fortune; te — unto you; bhagavantam — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; adhokṣajam — who is beyond the concepts of material senses; sarva-bhūta — all living entities; ātma-bhāvena — by thinking of them as one; sarva-bhūta — in all living entities; ātma — the Supersoul; vigraham — having form.
TRANSLATION
My dear Dhruva, come forward. May the Lord always grace you with good fortune. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beyond our sensory perception, is the Supersoul of all living entities, and thus all entities are one, without distinction. Therefore begin rendering service unto the transcendental form of the Lord, who is the ultimate shelter of all living entities.
VERSE 4.12.6
bhajasva bhajanīyāṅghrim
abhavāya bhava-cchidam
yuktaṁ virahitaṁ śaktyā
guṇa-mayyātma-māyayā
SYNONYMS
bhajasva — engage in devotional service; bhajanīya — worthy to be worshiped; aṅghrim — unto Him whose lotus feet; abhavāya — for deliverance from material existence; bhava-chidam — who cuts the knot of material entanglement; yuktam — attached; virahitam — aloof; śaktyā — to His potency; guṇa-mayyā — consisting of the modes of material nature; ātma-māyayā — by His inconceivable potency.
TRANSLATION
Engage yourself fully, therefore, in the devotional service of the Lord, for only He can deliver us from this entanglement of materialistic existence. Although the Lord is attached to His material potency, He is aloof from her activities. Everything in this material world is happening by the inconceivable potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
VERSE 4.12.7
vṛṇīhi kāmaṁ nṛpa yan mano-gataṁ
mattas tvam auttānapade ’viśaṅkitaḥ
varaṁ varārho ’mbuja-nābha-pādayor
anantaraṁ tvāṁ vayam aṅga śuśruma
SYNONYMS
vṛṇīhi — please ask; kāmam — desire; nṛpa — O King; yat — whatever; manaḥ-gatam — within your mind; mattaḥ — from me; tvam — you; auttānapade — O son of Mahārāja Uttānapāda; aviśaṅkitaḥ — without hesitation; varam — benediction; vara-arhaḥ — worthy to take benedictions; ambuja — lotus flower; nābha — whose navel; pādayoḥ — at His lotus feet; anantaram — constantly; tvām — about you; vayam — we; aṅga — dear Dhruva; śuśruma — have heard.
TRANSLATION
My dear Dhruva Mahārāja, son of Mahārāja Uttānapāda, we have heard that you are constantly engaged in transcendental loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known for His lotus navel. You are therefore worthy to take all benedictions from us. Please, therefore, ask without hesitation whatever benediction you want from me.
VERSE 4.12.8
maitreya uvāca
sa rāja-rājena varāya codito
dhruvo mahā-bhāgavato mahā-matiḥ
harau sa vavre ’calitāṁ smṛtiṁ yayā
taraty ayatnena duratyayaṁ tamaḥ
SYNONYMS
maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya said; saḥ — he; rāja-rājena — by the king of kings (Kuvera); varāya — for a benediction; coditaḥ — being asked; dhruvaḥ — Dhruva Mahārāja; mahā-bhāgavataḥ — a first-class pure devotee; mahā-matiḥ — most intelligent or thoughtful; harau — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; saḥ — he; vavre — asked; acalitām — unflinching; smṛtim — remembrance; yayā — by which; tarati — crosses over; ayatnena — without difficulty; duratyayam — unsurpassable; tamaḥ — nescience.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, when thus asked to accept a benediction from Kuvera the Yakṣarāja [King of the Yakṣas], Dhruva Mahārāja, that most elevated pure devotee, who was an intelligent and thoughtful king, begged that he might have unflinching faith in and remembrance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for thus a person can cross over the ocean of nescience very easily, although it is very difficult for others to cross.
VERSE 4.12.9
tasya prītena manasā
tāṁ dattvaiḍaviḍas tataḥ
paśyato ’ntardadhe so ’pi
sva-puraṁ pratyapadyata
SYNONYMS
tasya — with Dhruva; prītena — being very pleased; manasā — with such a mentality; tām — that remembrance; dattvā — having given; aiḍaviḍaḥ — Kuvera, son of Iḍaviḍā; tataḥ — thereafter; paśyataḥ — while Dhruva was looking on; antardadhe — disappeared; saḥ — he (Dhruva); api — also; sva-puram — to his city; pratyapadyata — returned.
TRANSLATION
The son of Iḍaviḍā, Lord Kuvera, was very pleased, and happily he gave Dhruva Mahārāja the benediction he wanted. Thereafter he disappeared from Dhruva’s presence, and Dhruva Mahārāja returned to his capital city.
VERSE 4.12.10
athāyajata yajñeśaṁ
kratubhir bhūri-dakṣiṇaiḥ
dravya-kriyā-devatānāṁ
karma karma-phala-pradam
SYNONYMS
atha — thereafter; ayajata — he worshiped; yajña-īśam — the master of sacrifices; kratubhiḥ — by sacrificial ceremonies; bhūri — great; dakṣiṇaiḥ — by charities; dravya-kriyā-devatānām — of (sacrifices including various) paraphernalia, activities and demigods; karma — the objective; karma-phala — the result of activities; pradam — who awards.
TRANSLATION
As long as he remained at home, Dhruva Mahārāja performed many great ceremonial sacrifices in order to please the enjoyer of all sacrifices, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Prescribed ceremonial sacrifices are especially meant to please Lord Viṣṇu, who is the objective of all such sacrifices and who awards the resultant benedictions.
VERSE 4.12.11
sarvātmany acyute ’sarve
tīvraughāṁ bhaktim udvahan
dadarśātmani bhūteṣu
tam evāvasthitaṁ vibhum
SYNONYMS
sarva-ātmani — unto the Supersoul; acyute — infallible; asarve — without any limit; tīvra-oghām — with unrelenting force; bhaktim — devotional service; udvahan — rendering; dadarśa — he saw; ātmani — in the Supreme Spirit; bhūteṣu — in all living entities; tam — Him; eva — only; avasthitam — situated; vibhum — all-powerful.
TRANSLATION
Dhruva Mahārāja rendered devotional service unto the Supreme, the reservoir of everything, with unrelenting force. While carrying out his devotional service to the Lord, he could see that everything is situated in Him only and that He is situated in all living entities. The Lord is called Acyuta because He never fails in His prime duty, to give protection to His devotees.
VERSE 4.12.12
tam evaṁ śīla-sampannaṁ
brahmaṇyaṁ dīna-vatsalam
goptāraṁ dharma-setūnāṁ
menire pitaraṁ prajāḥ
SYNONYMS
tam — him; evam — thus; śīla — with godly qualities; sampannam — endowed; brahmaṇyam — respectful to the brāhmaṇas; dīna — to the poor; vatsalam — kind; goptāram — protector; dharma-setūnām — of religious principles; menire — thought; pitaram — father; prajāḥ — the citizens.
TRANSLATION
Dhruva Mahārāja was endowed with all godly qualities; he was very respectful to the devotees of the Supreme Lord and very kind to the poor and innocent, and he protected religious principles. With all these qualifications, he was considered to be the direct father of all the citizens.
VERSE 4.12.13
ṣaṭ-triṁśad-varṣa-sāhasraṁ
śaśāsa kṣiti-maṇḍalam
bhogaiḥ puṇya-kṣayaṁ kurvann
abhogair aśubha-kṣayam
SYNONYMS
ṣaṭ-triṁśat — thirty-six; varṣa — years; sāhasram — thousand; śaśāsa — ruled; kṣiti-maṇḍalam — the earth planet; bhogaiḥ — by enjoyment; puṇya — of reactions of pious activities; kṣayam — diminution; kurvan — doing; abhogaiḥ — by austerities; aśubha — of inauspicious reactions; kṣayam — diminution.
TRANSLATION
Dhruva Mahārāja ruled over this planet for thirty-six thousand years; he diminished the reactions of pious activities by enjoyment, and by practicing austerities he diminished inauspicious reactions.
VERSE 4.12.14
evaṁ bahu-savaṁ kālaṁ
mahātmāvicalendriyaḥ
tri-vargaupayikaṁ nītvā
putrāyādān nṛpāsanam
SYNONYMS
evam — thus; bahu — many; savam — years; kālam — time; mahā-ātmā — great soul; avicala-indriyaḥ — without being disturbed by sense agitation; tri-varga — three kinds of worldly activities; aupayikam — favorable for executing; nītvā — having passed; putrāya — to his son; adāt — he handed over; nṛpa-āsanam — the royal throne.
TRANSLATION
The self-controlled great soul Dhruva Mahārāja thus passed many, many years favorably executing three kinds of worldly activities, namely religiosity, economic development and satisfaction of all material desires. Thereafter he handed over the charge of the royal throne to his son.
VERSE 4.12.15
manyamāna idaṁ viśvaṁ
māyā-racitam ātmani
avidyā-racita-svapna-
gandharva-nagaropamam
SYNONYMS
manyamānaḥ — realizing; idam — this; viśvam — universe; māyā — by the external energy; racitam — manufactured; ātmani — unto the living entity; avidyā — by illusion; racita — manufactured; svapna — a dream; gandharva-nagara — phantasmagoria; upamam — like.
TRANSLATION
Śrīla Dhruva Mahārāja realized that this cosmic manifestation bewilders living entities like a dream or phantasmagoria because it is a creation of the illusory, external energy of the Supreme Lord.
VERSE 4.12.16
ātma-stry-apatya-suhṛdo balam ṛddha-kośam
antaḥ-puraṁ parivihāra-bhuvaś ca ramyāḥ
bhū-maṇḍalaṁ jaladhi-mekhalam ākalayya
kālopasṛṣṭam iti sa prayayau viśālām
SYNONYMS
ātma — body; strī — wives; apatya — children; suhṛdaḥ — friends; balam — influence, army; ṛddha-kośam — rich treasury; antaḥ-puram — female residential quarters; parivihāra-bhuvaḥ — pleasure-grounds; ca — and; ramyāḥ — beautiful; bhū-maṇḍalam — the complete earth; jala-dhi — by oceans; mekhalam — bound; ākalayya — considering; kāla — by time; upasṛṣṭam — created; iti — thus; saḥ — he; prayayau — went; viśālām — to Badarikāśrama.
TRANSLATION
Thus Dhruva Mahārāja, at the end, left his kingdom, which extended all over the earth and was bounded by the great oceans. He considered his body, his wives, his children, his friends, his army, his rich treasury, his very comfortable palaces and his many enjoyable pleasure-grounds to be creations of the illusory energy. Thus in due course of time he retired to the forest in the Himālayas known as Badarikāśrama.
VERSE 4.12.17
tasyāṁ viśuddha-karaṇaḥ śiva-vār vigāhya
baddhvāsanaṁ jita-marun manasāhṛtākṣaḥ
sthūle dadhāra bhagavat-pratirūpa etad
dhyāyaṁs tad avyavahito vyasṛjat samādhau
SYNONYMS
tasyām — in Badarikāśrama; viśuddha — purified; karaṇaḥ — his senses; śiva — pure; vāḥ — water; vigāhya — bathing in; baddhvā — having fixed; āsanam — sitting position; jita — controlled; marut — breathing process; manasā — by the mind; āhṛta — withdrawn; akṣaḥ — his senses; sthūle — physical; dadhāra — he concentrated; bhagavat-pratirūpe — on the exact form of the Lord; etat — the mind; dhyāyan — meditating upon; tat — that; avyavahitaḥ — without stopping; vyasṛjat — he entered; samādhau — into trance.
TRANSLATION
In Badarikāśrama Dhruva Mahārāja’s senses became completely purified because he bathed regularly in the crystal-clear, purified water. He fixed his sitting position and by yogic practice controlled the breathing process and the air of life; in this way his senses were completely withdrawn. Then he concentrated his mind on the arcā-vigraha form of the Lord, which is the exact replica of the Lord and, thus meditating upon Him, entered into complete trance.
VERSE 4.12.18
bhaktiṁ harau bhagavati pravahann ajasram
ānanda-bāṣpa-kalayā muhur ardyamānaḥ
viklidyamāna-hṛdayaḥ pulakācitāṅgo
nātmānam asmarad asāv iti mukta-liṅgaḥ
SYNONYMS
bhaktim — devotional service; harau — unto Hari; bhagavati — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pravahan — constantly engaging in; ajasram — always; ānanda — blissful; bāṣpa-kalayā — by a stream of tears; muhuḥ — again and again; ardyamānaḥ — being overcome; viklidyamāna — melting; hṛdayaḥ — his heart; pulaka — standing of hairs; ācita — covered; aṅgaḥ — his body; na — not; ātmānam — body; asmarat — he remembered; asau — he; iti — thus; mukta-liṅgaḥ — free from the subtle body.
TRANSLATION
Because of his transcendental bliss, incessant tears flowed from his eyes, his heart melted, and there was shivering and standing of the hairs all over his body. Thus transformed, in a trance of devotional service, Dhruva Mahārāja completely forgot his bodily existence, and thus he immediately became liberated from material bondage.
VERSE 4.12.19
sa dadarśa vimānāgryaṁ
nabhaso ’vatarad dhruvaḥ
vibhrājayad daśa diśo
rākāpatim ivoditam
SYNONYMS
saḥ — he; dadarśa — saw; vimāna — an airplane; agryam — very beautiful; nabhasaḥ — from the sky; avatarat — descending; dhruvaḥ — Dhruva Mahārāja; vibhrājayat — illuminating; daśa — ten; diśaḥ — directions; rākā-patim — the full moon; iva — like; uditam — visible.
TRANSLATION
As soon as the symptoms of his liberation were manifest, he saw a very beautiful airplane coming down from the sky, as if the brilliant full moon were coming down, illuminating all the ten directions.
VERSE 4.12.20
tatrānu deva-pravarau catur-bhujau
śyāmau kiśorāv aruṇāmbujekṣaṇau
sthitāv avaṣṭabhya gadāṁ suvāsasau
kirīṭa-hārāṅgada-cāru-kuṇḍalau
SYNONYMS
tatra — there; anu — then; deva-pravarau — two very beautiful demigods; catuḥ-bhujau — with four arms; śyāmau — blackish; kiśorau — quite young; aruṇa — reddish; ambuja — lotus flower; īkṣaṇau — with eyes; sthitau — situated; avaṣṭabhya — holding; gadām — clubs; suvāsasau — with nice garments; kirīṭa — helmets; hāra — necklaces; aṅgada — bracelets; cāru — beautiful; kuṇḍalau — with earrings.
TRANSLATION
Dhruva Mahārāja saw two very beautiful associates of Lord Viṣṇu in the plane. They had four hands and a blackish bodily luster, they were very youthful, and their eyes were just like reddish lotus flowers. They held clubs in their hands, and they were dressed in very attractive garments with helmets and were decorated with necklaces, bracelets and earrings.
VERSE 4.12.21
vijñāya tāv uttamagāya-kiṅkarāv
abhyutthitaḥ sādhvasa-vismṛta-kramaḥ
nanāma nāmāni gṛṇan madhudviṣaḥ
pārṣat-pradhānāv iti saṁhatāñjaliḥ
SYNONYMS
vijñāya — after understanding; tau — them; uttama-gāya — of Lord Viṣṇu (of excellent renown); kiṅkarau — two servants; abhyutthitaḥ — stood up; sādhvasa — by being puzzled; vismṛta — forgot; kramaḥ — proper behavior; nanāma — offered obeisances; nāmāni — names; gṛṇan — chanting; madhu-dviṣaḥ — of the Lord (the enemy of Madhu); pārṣat — associates; pradhānau — chief; iti — thus; saṁhata — respectfully joined; añjaliḥ — with folded hands.
TRANSLATION
Dhruva Mahārāja, seeing that these uncommon personalities were direct servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, immediately stood up. But, being puzzled, in hastiness he forgot how to receive them in the proper way. Therefore he simply offered obeisances with folded hands and chanted and glorified the holy names of the Lord.
VERSE 4.12.22
taṁ kṛṣṇa-pādābhiniviṣṭa-cetasaṁ
baddhāñjaliṁ praśraya-namra-kandharam
sunanda-nandāv upasṛtya sasmitaṁ
pratyūcatuḥ puṣkaranābha-sammatau
SYNONYMS
tam — him; kṛṣṇa — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; pāda — of the lotus feet; abhiniviṣṭa — absorbed in thought; cetasam — whose heart; baddha-añjalim — with folded hands; praśraya — very humbly; namra — bowed; kandharam — whose neck; sunanda — Sunanda; nandau — and Nanda; upasṛtya — approaching; sa-smitam — smilingly; pratyūcatuḥ — addressed; puṣkara-nābha — of Lord Viṣṇu, who has a lotus navel; sammatau — confidential servants.
TRANSLATION
Dhruva Mahārāja was always absorbed in thinking of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa. His heart was full with Kṛṣṇa. When the two confidential servants of the Supreme Lord, who were named Nanda and Sunanda, approached him, smiling happily, Dhruva stood with folded hands, bowing humbly. They then addressed him as follows.
VERSE 4.12.23
sunanda-nandāv ūcatuḥ
bho bho rājan subhadraṁ te
vācaṁ no ’vahitaḥ śṛṇu
yaḥ pañca-varṣas tapasā
bhavān devam atītṛpat
SYNONYMS
sunanda-nandau ūcatuḥ — Sunanda and Nanda said; bhoḥ bhoḥ rājan — O dear King; su-bhadram — good fortune; te — unto you; vācam — words; naḥ — our; avahitaḥ — attentively; śṛṇu — hear; yaḥ — who; pañca-varṣaḥ — five years old; tapasā — by austerity; bhavān — you; devam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; atītṛpat — greatly satisfied.
TRANSLATION
Nanda and Sunanda, the two confidential associates of Lord Viṣṇu, said: Dear King, let there be all good fortune unto you. Please attentively hear what we shall say. When you were only five years old, you underwent severe austerities, and you thereby greatly satisfied the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
VERSE 4.12.24
tasyākhila-jagad-dhātur
āvāṁ devasya śārṅgiṇaḥ
pārṣadāv iha samprāptau
netuṁ tvāṁ bhagavat-padam
SYNONYMS
tasya — His; akhila — entire; jagat — universe; dhātuḥ — creator; āvām — we; devasya — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; śārṅgiṇaḥ — who has the bow named Śārṅga; pārṣadau — associates; iha — now; samprāptau — approached; netum — to take; tvām — you; bhagavat-padam — to the position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
We are representatives of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the creator of the whole universe, who carries in His hand the bow named Śārṅga. We have been specifically deputed to take you to the spiritual world.
VERSE 4.12.25
sudurjayaṁ viṣṇu-padaṁ jitaṁ tvayā
yat sūrayo ’prāpya vicakṣate param
ātiṣṭha tac candra-divākarādayo
graharkṣa-tārāḥ pariyanti dakṣiṇam
SYNONYMS
sudurjayam — very difficult to achieve; viṣṇu-padam — planet known as Vaikuṇṭhaloka or Viṣṇuloka; jitam — conquered; tvayā — by you; yat — which; sūrayaḥ — great demigods; aprāpya — without achieving; vicakṣate — simply see; param — supreme; ātiṣṭha — please come; tat — that; candra — the moon; diva-ākara — sun; ādayaḥ — and others; graha — the nine planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto); ṛkṣa-tārāḥ — stars; pariyanti — circumambulate; dakṣiṇam — to the right.
TRANSLATION
To achieve Viṣṇuloka is very difficult, but by your austerity you have conquered. Even the great ṛṣis and demigods cannot achieve this position. Simply to see the supreme abode [the Viṣṇu planet], the sun and moon and all the other planets, stars, lunar mansions and solar systems are circumambulating it. Now please come; you are welcome to go there.
VERSE 4.12.26
anāsthitaṁ te pitṛbhir
anyair apy aṅga karhicit
ātiṣṭha jagatāṁ vandyaṁ
tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam
SYNONYMS
anāsthitam — never achieved; te — your; pitṛbhiḥ — by forefathers; anyaiḥ — by others; api — even; aṅga — O Dhruva; karhicit — at any time; ātiṣṭha — please come and live there; jagatām — by the inhabitants of the universe; vandyam — worshipable; tat — that; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; paramam — supreme; padam — situation.
TRANSLATION
Dear King Dhruva, neither your forefathers nor anyone else before you ever achieved such a transcendental planet. The planet known as Viṣṇuloka, where Lord Viṣṇu personally resides, is the highest of all. It is worshipable by the inhabitants of all other planets within the universe. Please come with us and live there eternally.
VERSE 4.12.27
etad vimāna-pravaram
uttamaśloka-maulinā
upasthāpitam āyuṣmann
adhiroḍhuṁ tvam arhasi
SYNONYMS
etat — this; vimāna — airplane; pravaram — unique; uttamaśloka — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; maulinā — by the head of all living entities; upasthāpitam — sent; āyuṣman — O immortal one; adhiroḍhum — to board; tvam — you; arhasi — are worthy.
TRANSLATION
O immortal one, this unique airplane has been sent by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is worshiped by selected prayers and who is the chief of all living entities. You are quite worthy to board such a plane.
VERSE 4.12.28
maitreya uvāca
niśamya vaikuṇṭha-niyojya-mukhyayor
madhu-cyutaṁ vācam urukrama-priyaḥ
kṛtābhiṣekaḥ kṛta-nitya-maṅgalo
munīn praṇamyāśiṣam abhyavādayat
SYNONYMS
maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya said; niśamya — after hearing; vaikuṇṭha — of the Lord; niyojya — associates; mukhyayoḥ — of the chief; madhu-cyutam — like pouring honey; vācam — speeches; urukrama-priyaḥ — Dhruva Mahārāja, who was very dear to the Lord; kṛta-abhiṣekaḥ — took his sacred bath; kṛta — performed; nitya-maṅgalaḥ — his daily spiritual duties; munīn — to the sages; praṇamya — having offered obeisances; āśiṣam — blessings; abhyavādayat — accepted.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Maitreya continued: Mahārāja Dhruva was very dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When he heard the sweet speeches of the Lord’s chief associates in the Vaikuṇṭha planet, he immediately took his sacred bath, dressed himself with suitable ornaments, and performed his daily spiritual duties. Thereafter he offered his respectful obeisances to the great sages present there and accepted their blessings.
VERSE 4.12.29
parītyābhyarcya dhiṣṇyāgryaṁ
pārṣadāv abhivandya ca
iyeṣa tad adhiṣṭhātuṁ
bibhrad rūpaṁ hiraṇmayam
SYNONYMS
parītya — having circumambulated; abhyarcya — having worshiped; dhiṣṇya-agryam — the transcendental airplane; pārṣadau — unto the two associates; abhivandya — having offered obeisances; ca — also; iyeṣa — he attempted; tat — that plane; adhiṣṭhātum — to board; bibhrat — illuminating; rūpam — his form; hiraṇmayam — golden.
TRANSLATION
Before getting aboard, Dhruva Mahārāja worshiped the airplane, circumambulated it, and also offered obeisances to the associates of Viṣṇu. In the meantime he became as brilliant and illuminating as molten gold. He was thus completely prepared to board the transcendental plane.
VERSE 4.12.30
tadottānapadaḥ putro
dadarśāntakam āgatam
mṛtyor mūrdhni padaṁ dattvā
ārurohādbhutaṁ gṛham
SYNONYMS
tadā — then; uttānapadaḥ — of King Uttānapāda; putraḥ — son; dadarśa — could see; antakam — death personified; āgatam — approached him; mṛtyoḥ mūrdhni — on the head of death; padam — feet; dattvā — placing; āruroha — got up; adbhutam — wonderful; gṛham — on the airplane which resembled a big house.
TRANSLATION
When Dhruva Mahārāja was attempting to get on the transcendental plane, he saw death personified approach him. Not caring for death, however, he took advantage of the opportunity to put his feet on the head of death, and thus he got up on the airplane, which was as big as a house.
VERSE 4.12.31
tadā dundubhayo nedur
mṛdaṅga-paṇavādayaḥ
gandharva-mukhyāḥ prajaguḥ
petuḥ kusuma-vṛṣṭayaḥ
SYNONYMS
tadā — at that time; dundubhayaḥ — kettledrums; neduḥ — resounded; mṛdaṅga — drums; paṇava — small drums; ādayaḥ — etc; gandharva-mukhyāḥ — the chief residents of Gandharvaloka; prajaguḥ — sang; petuḥ — showered; kusuma — flowers; vṛṣṭayaḥ — like rains.
TRANSLATION
At that time drums and kettledrums resounded from the sky, the chief Gandharvas began to sing, and other demigods showered flowers like torrents of rain upon Dhruva Mahārāja.
VERSE 4.12.32
sa ca svarlokam ārokṣyan
sunītiṁ jananīṁ dhruvaḥ
anvasmarad agaṁ hitvā
dīnāṁ yāsye tri-viṣṭapam
SYNONYMS
saḥ — he; ca — also; svaḥ-lokam — to the celestial planet; ārokṣyan — about to ascend; sunītim — Sunīti; jananīm — mother; dhruvaḥ — Dhruva Mahārāja; anvasmarat — immediately remembered; agam — difficult to attain; hitvā — leaving behind; dīnām — poor; yāsye — I shall go; tri-viṣṭapam — to the Vaikuṇṭha planet.
TRANSLATION
Dhruva was seated in the transcendental airplane, which was just about to start, when he remembered his poor mother, Sunīti. He thought to himself, “How shall I go alone to the Vaikuṇṭha planet and leave behind my poor mother?”
VERSE 4.12.33
iti vyavasitaṁ tasya
vyavasāya surottamau
darśayām āsatur devīṁ
puro yānena gacchatīm
SYNONYMS
iti — thus; vyavasitam — contemplation; tasya — of Dhruva; vyavasāya — understanding; sura-uttamau — the two chief associates; darśayām āsatuḥ — showed (to him); devīm — exalted Sunīti; puraḥ — before; yānena — by airplane; gacchatīm — going forward.
TRANSLATION
The great associates of Vaikuṇṭhaloka, Nanda and Sunanda, could understand the mind of Dhruva Mahārāja, and thus they showed him that his mother, Sunīti, was going forward in another plane.
VERSE 4.12.34
tatra tatra praśaṁsadbhiḥ
pathi vaimānikaiḥ suraiḥ
avakīryamāṇo dadṛśe
kusumaiḥ kramaśo grahān
SYNONYMS
tatra tatra — here and there; praśaṁsadbhiḥ — by persons engaged in the praise of Dhruva Mahārāja; pathi — on the path; vaimānikaiḥ — carried by different types of airplanes; suraiḥ — by the demigods; avakīryamāṇaḥ — being covered; dadṛśe — could see; kusumaiḥ — by flowers; kramaśaḥ — one after another; grahān — all the planets of the solar system.
TRANSLATION
While Dhruva Mahārāja was passing through space, he gradually saw all the planets of the solar system, and on the path he saw all the demigods in their airplanes showering flowers upon him like rain.
VERSE 4.12.35
tri-lokīṁ deva-yānena
so ’tivrajya munīn api
parastād yad dhruva-gatir
viṣṇoḥ padam athābhyagāt
SYNONYMS
tri-lokīm — the three planetary systems; deva-yānena — by the transcendental airplane; saḥ — Dhruva; ativrajya — having surpassed; munīn — great sages; api — even; parastāt — beyond; yat — which; dhruva-gatiḥ — Dhruva, who attained permanent life; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; padam — abode; atha — then; abhyagāt — achieved.
TRANSLATION
Dhruva Mahārāja thus surpassed the seven planetary systems of the great sages who are known as saptarṣi. Beyond that region, he achieved the transcendental situation of permanent life in the planet where Lord Viṣṇu lives.
VERSE 4.12.36
yad bhrājamānaṁ sva-rucaiva sarvato
lokās trayo hy anu vibhrājanta ete
yan nāvrajañ jantuṣu ye ’nanugrahā
vrajanti bhadrāṇi caranti ye ’niśam
SYNONYMS
yat — which planet; bhrājamānam — illuminating; sva-rucā — by self-effulgence; eva — only; sarvataḥ — everywhere; lokāḥ — planetary systems; trayaḥ — three; hi — certainly; anu — thereupon; vibhrājante — give off light; ete — these; yat — which planet; na — not; avrajan — have reached; jantuṣu — to living entities; ye — those who; ananugrahāḥ — not merciful; vrajanti — reach; bhadrāṇi — welfare activities; caranti — engage in; ye — those who; aniśam — constantly.
TRANSLATION
The self-effulgent Vaikuṇṭha planets, by whose illumination alone all the illuminating planets within this material world give off reflected light, cannot be reached by those who are not merciful to other living entities. Only persons who constantly engage in welfare activities for other living entities can reach the Vaikuṇṭha planets.
VERSE 4.12.37
śāntāḥ sama-dṛśaḥ śuddhāḥ
sarva-bhūtānurañjanāḥ
yānty añjasācyuta-padam
acyuta-priya-bāndhavāḥ
SYNONYMS
śāntāḥ — peaceful; sama-dṛśaḥ — equipoised; śuddhāḥ — cleansed, purified; sarva — all; bhūta — living entities; anurañjanāḥ — pleasing; yānti — go; añjasā — easily; acyuta — of the Lord; padam — to the abode; acyuta-priya — with devotees of the Lord; bāndhavāḥ — friends.
TRANSLATION
Persons who are peaceful, equipoised, cleansed and purified, and who know the art of pleasing all other living entities, keep friendship only with devotees of the Lord; they alone can very easily achieve the perfection of going back home, back to Godhead.
VERSE 4.12.38
ity uttānapadaḥ putro
dhruvaḥ kṛṣṇa-parāyaṇaḥ
abhūt trayāṇāṁ lokānāṁ
cūḍā-maṇir ivāmalaḥ
SYNONYMS
iti — thus; uttānapadaḥ — of Mahārāja Uttānapāda; putraḥ — the son; dhruvaḥ — Dhruva Mahārāja; kṛṣṇa-parāyaṇaḥ — fully Kṛṣṇa conscious; abhūt — became; trayāṇām — of the three; lokānām — worlds; cūḍā-maṇiḥ — the summit jewel; iva — like; amalaḥ — purified.
TRANSLATION
In this way, the fully Kṛṣṇa conscious Dhruva Mahārāja, the exalted son of Mahārāja Uttānapāda, attained the summit of the three statuses of planetary systems.
VERSE 4.12.39
gambhīra-vego ’nimiṣaṁ
jyotiṣāṁ cakram āhitam
yasmin bhramati kauravya
meḍhyām iva gavāṁ gaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
gambhīra-vegaḥ — with great force and speed; animiṣam — unceasingly; jyotiṣām — of luminaries; cakram — sphere; āhitam — connected; yasmin — around which; bhramati — encircles; kauravya — O Vidura; meḍhyām — a central pole; iva — as; gavām — of bulls; gaṇaḥ — a herd.
TRANSLATION
Saint Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, descendant of Kuru, as a herd of bulls circumambulates a central pole on their right side, all the luminaries within the universal sky unceasingly circumambulate the abode of Dhruva Mahārāja with great force and speed.
VERSE 4.12.40
mahimānaṁ vilokyāsya
nārado bhagavān ṛṣiḥ
ātodyaṁ vitudañ ślokān
satre ’gāyat pracetasām
SYNONYMS
mahimānam — glories; vilokya — observing; asya — of Dhruva Mahārāja; nāradaḥ — the great sage Nārada; bhagavān — equally as exalted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ṛṣiḥ — the saint; ātodyam — the stringed instrument, vīṇā; vitudan — playing on; ślokān — verses; satre — in the sacrificial arena; agāyat — chanted; pracetasām — of the Pracetās.
TRANSLATION
After observing the glories of Dhruva Mahārāja, the great sage Nārada, playing his vīṇā, went to the sacrificial arena of the Pracetās and very happily chanted the following three verses.
VERSE 4.12.41
nārada uvāca
nūnaṁ sunīteḥ pati-devatāyās
tapaḥ-prabhāvasya sutasya tāṁ gatim
dṛṣṭvābhyupāyān api veda-vādino
naivādhigantuṁ prabhavanti kiṁ nṛpāḥ
SYNONYMS
nāradaḥ uvāca — Nārada said; nūnam — certainly; sunīteḥ — of Sunīti; pati-devatāyāḥ — very much attached to her husband; tapaḥ-prabhāvasya — by the influence of austerity; sutasya — of the son; tām — that; gatim — position; dṛṣṭvā — observing; abhyupāyān — the means; api — although; veda-vādinaḥ — strict followers of the Vedic principles, or the so-called Vedāntists; na — never; eva — certainly; adhigantum — to attain; prabhavanti — are eligible; kim — what to speak of; nṛpāḥ — ordinary kings.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Nārada said: Simply by the influence of his spiritual advancement and powerful austerity, Dhruva Mahārāja, the son of Sunīti, who was devoted to her husband, acquired an exalted position not possible to attain even for the so-called Vedāntists or strict followers of the Vedic principles, not to speak of ordinary human beings.
VERSE 4.12.42
yaḥ pañca-varṣo guru-dāra-vāk-śarair
bhinnena yāto hṛdayena dūyatā
vanaṁ mad-ādeśa-karo ’jitaṁ prabhuṁ
jigāya tad-bhakta-guṇaiḥ parājitam
SYNONYMS
yaḥ — he who; pañca-varṣaḥ — at the age of five years; guru-dāra — of the wife of his father; vāk-śaraiḥ — by the harsh words; bhinnena — being very much aggrieved; yātaḥ — went; hṛdayena — because his heart; dūyatā — very much pained; vanam — to the forest; mat-ādeśa — according to my instruction; karaḥ — acting; ajitam — unconquerable; prabhum — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; jigāya — he defeated; tat — His; bhakta — of devotees; guṇaiḥ — with the qualities; parājitam — conquered.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Nārada continued: Just see how Dhruva Mahārāja, aggrieved at the harsh words of his stepmother, went to the forest at the age of only five years and under my direction underwent austerity. Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead is unconquerable, Dhruva Mahārāja defeated Him with the specific qualifications possessed by the Lord’s devotees.
VERSE 4.12.43
yaḥ kṣatra-bandhur bhuvi tasyādhirūḍham
anv ārurukṣed api varṣa-pūgaiḥ
ṣaṭ-pañca-varṣo yad ahobhir alpaiḥ
prasādya vaikuṇṭham avāpa tat-padam
SYNONYMS
yaḥ — one who; kṣatra-bandhuḥ — the son of a kṣatriya; bhuvi — on the earth; tasya — of Dhruva; adhirūḍham — the exalted position; anu — after; ārurukṣet — can aspire to attain; api — even; varṣa-pūgaiḥ — after many years; ṣaṭ-pañca-varṣaḥ — five or six years old; yat — which; ahobhiḥ alpaiḥ — after a few days; prasādya — after pleasing; vaikuṇṭham — the Lord; avāpa — attained; tat-padam — His abode.
TRANSLATION
Dhruva Mahārāja attained an exalted position at the age of only five or six years, after undergoing austerity for six months. Alas, a great kṣatriya cannot achieve such a position even after undergoing austerities for many, many years.
VERSE 4.12.44
maitreya uvāca
etat te ’bhihitaṁ sarvaṁ
yat pṛṣṭo ’ham iha tvayā
dhruvasyoddāma-yaśasaś
caritaṁ sammataṁ satām
SYNONYMS
maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya said; etat — this; te — unto you; abhihitam — described; sarvam — everything; yat — what; pṛṣṭaḥ aham — I was asked; iha — here; tvayā — by you; dhruvasya — of Dhruva Mahārāja; uddāma — greatly uplifting; yaśasaḥ — whose reputation; caritam — character; sammatam — approved; satām — by great devotees.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, whatever you have asked from me about the great reputation and character of Dhruva Mahārāja I have explained to you in all detail. Great saintly persons and devotees very much like to hear about Dhruva Mahārāja.
VERSE 4.12.45
dhanyaṁ yaśasyam āyuṣyaṁ
puṇyaṁ svasty-ayanaṁ mahat
svargyaṁ dhrauvyaṁ saumanasyaṁ
praśasyam agha-marṣaṇam
SYNONYMS
dhanyam — bestowing wealth; yaśasyam — bestowing reputation; āyuṣyam — increasing the duration of life; puṇyam — sacred; svasti-ayanam — creating auspiciousness; mahat — great; svargyam — bestowing achievement of heavenly planets; dhrauvyam — or Dhruvaloka; saumanasyam — pleasing to the mind; praśasyam — glorious; agha-marṣaṇam — counteracting all kinds of sinful activities.
TRANSLATION
By hearing the narration of Dhruva Mahārāja one can fulfill desires for wealth, reputation and increased duration of life. It is so auspicious that one can even go to a heavenly planet or attain Dhruvaloka, which was achieved by Dhruva Mahārāja, just by hearing about him. The demigods also become pleased because this narration is so glorious, and it is so powerful that it can counteract all the results of one’s sinful actions.
VERSE 4.12.46
śrutvaitac chraddhayābhīkṣṇam
acyuta-priya-ceṣṭitam
bhaved bhaktir bhagavati
yayā syāt kleśa-saṅkṣayaḥ
SYNONYMS
śrutvā — by hearing; etat — this; śraddhayā — with faith; abhīkṣṇam — repeatedly; acyuta — to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; priya — dear; ceṣṭitam — activities; bhavet — develops; bhaktiḥ — devotion; bhagavati — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yayā — by which; syāt — must be; kleśa — of miseries; saṅkṣayaḥ — complete diminution.
TRANSLATION
Anyone who hears the narration of Dhruva Mahārāja, and who repeatedly tries with faith and devotion to understand his pure character, attains the pure devotional platform and executes pure devotional service. By such activities one can diminish the threefold miserable conditions of material life.
VERSE 4.12.47
mahattvam icchatāṁ tīrthaṁ
śrotuḥ śīlādayo guṇāḥ
yatra tejas tad icchūnāṁ
māno yatra manasvinām
SYNONYMS
mahattvam — greatness; icchatām — for those desiring; tīrtham — the process; śrotuḥ — of the hearer; śīla-ādayaḥ — high character, etc; guṇāḥ — qualities; yatra — in which; tejaḥ — prowess; tat — that; icchūnām — for those who desire; mānaḥ — adoration; yatra — in which; manasvinām — for thoughtful men.
TRANSLATION
Anyone who hears this narration of Dhruva Mahārāja acquires exalted qualities like him. For anyone who desires greatness, prowess or influence, here is the process by which to acquire them, and for thoughtful men who want adoration, here is the proper means.
VERSE 4.12.48
prayataḥ kīrtayet prātaḥ
samavāye dvi-janmanām
sāyaṁ ca puṇya-ślokasya
dhruvasya caritaṁ mahat
SYNONYMS
prayataḥ — with great care; kīrtayet — one should chant; prātaḥ — in the morning; samavāye — in the association; dvi-janmanām — of the twice-born; sāyam — in the evening; ca — also; puṇya-ślokasya — of sacred renown; dhruvasya — of Dhruva; caritam — character; mahat — great.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Maitreya recommended: One should chant of the character and activities of Dhruva Mahārāja both in the morning and in the evening, with great attention and care, in a society of brāhmaṇas or other twice-born persons.
VERSE 4.12.49-50
paurṇamāsyāṁ sinīvālyāṁ
dvādaśyāṁ śravaṇe ’thavā
dina-kṣaye vyatīpāte
saṅkrame ’rkadine ’pi vā
śrāvayec chraddadhānānāṁ
tīrtha-pāda-padāśrayaḥ
necchaṁs tatrātmanātmānaṁ
santuṣṭa iti sidhyati
SYNONYMS
paurṇamāsyām — on the full-moon day; sinīvālyām — on the dark-moon day; dvādaśyām — on the day after Ekādaśī; śravaṇe — during the Śravaṇa star’s appearance; athavā — or; dina-kṣaye — at the end of the tithi; vyatīpāte — a particular day of the name; saṅkrame — at the end of the month; arkadine — on Sunday; api — also; vā — or; śrāvayet — one should recite; śraddadhānānām — to a receptive audience; tīrtha-pāda — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pada-āśrayaḥ — taken shelter of the lotus feet; na icchan — without desiring remuneration; tatra — there; ātmanā — by the self; ātmānam — the mind; santuṣṭaḥ — pacified; iti — thus; sidhyati — becomes perfect.
TRANSLATION
Persons who have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord should recite this narration of Dhruva Mahārāja without taking remuneration. Specifically, recitation is recommended on the full-moon or dark-moon day, on the day after Ekādaśī, on the appearance of the Śravaṇa star, at the end of a particular tithi, or the occasion of Vyatīpāta, at the end of the month, or on Sunday. Such recitation should of course be performed before a favorable audience. When recitation is performed this way, without professional motive, the reciter and audience become perfect.
VERSE 4.12.51
jñānam ajñāta-tattvāya
yo dadyāt sat-pathe ’mṛtam
kṛpālor dīna-nāthasya
devās tasyānugṛhṇate
SYNONYMS
jñānam — knowledge; ajñāta-tattvāya — to those who are unaware of the truth; yaḥ — one who; dadyāt — imparts; sat-pathe — on the path of truth; amṛtam — immortality; kṛpāloḥ — kind; dīna-nāthasya — protector of the poor; devāḥ — the demigods; tasya — to him; anugṛhṇate — give blessings.
TRANSLATION
The narration of Dhruva Mahārāja is sublime knowledge for the attainment of immortality. Persons unaware of the Absolute Truth can be led to the path of truth. Those who out of transcendental kindness take on the responsibility of becoming master-protectors of the poor living entities automatically gain the interest and blessings of the demigods.
VERSE 4.12.52
idaṁ mayā te ’bhihitaṁ kurūdvaha
dhruvasya vikhyāta-viśuddha-karmaṇaḥ
hitvārbhakaḥ krīḍanakāni mātur
gṛhaṁ ca viṣṇuṁ śaraṇaṁ yo jagāma
SYNONYMS
idam — this; mayā — by me; te — unto you; abhihitam — described; kuru-udvaha — O great one among the Kurus; dhruvasya — of Dhruva; vikhyāta — very famous; viśuddha — very pure; karmaṇaḥ — whose activities; hitvā — giving up; arbhakaḥ — child; krīḍanakāni — toys and playthings; mātuḥ — of his mother; gṛham — home; ca — also; viṣṇum — to Lord Viṣṇu; śaraṇam — shelter; yaḥ — one who; jagāma — went.
TRANSLATION
The transcendental activities of Dhruva Mahārāja are well known all over the world, and they are very pure. In childhood Dhruva Mahārāja rejected all kinds of toys and playthings, left the protection of his mother and seriously took shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu. My dear Vidura, I therefore conclude this narration, for I have described to you all its details.
