Bhagavatapurana 4.12: atha dvādaśo'dhyāyaḥ

4.12.1

/0 maitreya uvāca
dhruvaṃ nivṛttaṃ pratibuddhya vaiśasād apeta-manyuṃ bhagavān dhaneśvaraḥ /
tatrāgataś cāraṇa-yakṣa-kinnaraiḥ saṃstūyamāno nyavadat kṛtāñjalim //

Maitreya said: / Knowing that Dhruva had ceased from the slaughter and was free from anger, the worshipful Lord of Wealth, / having arrived there while being praised by Cāraṇas, Yakṣas, and Kinnaras, spoke to him as he stood with folded hands.

1. On knowing that Dhruva desisted from the cruel work and gave up his anger, the worshipful Kubera, the lord of wealth, came thither panegyrised by Chāranas, Yakshas and Kinnaras, and said to him (Dhruva) who stood with joined hands.

4.12.2

/0 dhanada uvāca
bho bhoḥ kṣatriya-dāyāda parituṣṭo 'smi te 'nagha /
yat tvaṃ pitāmahādeśād vairaṃ dustyajam atyajaḥ //

Kubera said: / O scion of the kṣatriyas, I am well pleased with you, sinless one, / since, by the instruction of your grandfather, you abandoned enmity, which is so hard to abandon.

2. Kubera said.—O prince of Kshatriya blood, I am very much pleased with thee, O sinless one; for at the word of thy grandfather thou hast relinquished the feeling of hostility which is very hard to get rid of.

4.12.3

na bhavān avadhīd yakṣān na yakṣā bhrātaraṃ tava /
kāla eva hi bhūtānāṃ prabhur apyaya-bhāvayoḥ //

You did not kill the Yakṣas, nor did the Yakṣas kill your brother; / for time alone is the master of the dissolution and emergence of beings.

3. Thou didst not kill the Yakshas, nor did the Yakshas kill thy brother; for, Kala (Time) is the powerful author of the creation or destruction of creatures.

4.12.4

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

The thought of 'I' and 'you' is truly meaningless for a person, arising from ignorance; / through meditation on what is not real, it appears like a dream, and through it bondage and liberation come about.

4. The empty notion of ‘*I and Thou*’ arises in man through ignorance; it resembles a notion in dream, arising from the habitual thought of the gross body; and the bondage and miseries of Samsāra are due to it.

4.12.5

tad gaccha dhruva bhadraṃ te bhagavantam adhokṣajam /
sarva-bhūtātma-bhāvena sarva-bhūtātma-vigraham //

Therefore go, Dhruva—all good be yours!—unto the Lord, Adhokṣaja, / with the mindset that he is the self of all beings, whose form is the self of all beings.

5. Therefore, happiness betide thee, O Dhruva! Do thou betake thyself to the Almighty Lord Adhokshaja who is in the form of all creatures, regarding Him as such.

4.12.6

bhajasva bhajanīyāṅghrim abhavāya bhava-cchidam /
yuktaṃ virahitaṃ śaktyā guṇa-mayyātma-māyayā //

Worship him whose feet are worthy of worship, who cuts off mundane existence, for liberation from birth, / united with and yet distinct from his creative power consisting of the strands of nature, his own power.

6. Do thou worship the Lord of glorious feet who puts an end to Samsāra and who is both associated with and untouched by his own Māyā which is constituted of the three gunas and forms a power of His own.

4.12.7

vṛṇīhi kāmaṃ nṛpa yan mano-gataṃ mattas tvam auttānapade 'viśaṅkitaḥ /
varaṃ varārho 'mbuja-nābha-pādayor anantaraṃ tvāṃ vayam aṅga śuśruma //

Choose without hesitation from me whatever desire is in your heart, O king, son of Uttānapāda; / worthy of boons, we have heard that you are close to the feet of the Lotus-naveled Lord, dear one.

7. O prince, O son of Uttānapāda, without any hesitation ask of me the boon that thou longest for at heart. We are told that thou art fit to receive boons and favours, being close to the feet of the Lord Padmanābha (whose navel is distinguished by the lotus), O beloved child!

4.12.8

/0 maitreya uvāca
sa rāja-rājena varāya codito dhruvo mahā-bhāgavato mahā-matiḥ /
harau sa vavre 'calitāṃ smṛtiṃ yayā taraty ayatnena duratyayaṃ tamaḥ //

Maitreya said: / Urged by the king of kings to choose a boon, Dhruva, the great devotee and man of profound wisdom, / chose unwavering remembrance of Hari, by which one effortlessly crosses beyond insurmountable darkness.

8. Maitreya said.—When thus induced by Kubera to ask for a boon, Dhruva of great wisdom, the great votary of the Lord, prayed for the uninterrupted memory of Hari, by which the jīva crosses over the darkness which is (otherwise) impassable.

4.12.9

tasya prītena manasā tāṃ dattvaiḍaviḍas tataḥ /
paśyato 'ntardadhe so 'pi sva-puraṃ pratyapadyata //

Having granted that to him with a delighted mind, Kubera, son of Iḍaviḍā, / disappeared before his eyes; and he too returned to his own city.

9. With a glad heart Kubera conferred the boon on him and vanished where he was; and the other (Dhruva) returned to the city.

4.12.10

athāyajata yajñeśaṃ kratubhir bhūri-dakṣiṇaiḥ /
dravya-kriyā-devatānāṃ karma karma-phala-pradam //

Then he worshipped the Lord of sacrifice with sacrifices having abundant priestly gifts, / the Lord who is the ritual action of the materials, rites, and deities, and who gives the fruit of rituals.

10. Thereafter he worshipped the Lord of sacrifices by means of many sacrificial performances attended with liberal gifts of gold (Dakshinās); for the religious duty performed with proper materials and ritualistic details and offered to the gods, yields the fruit of Karma (i. e., makes righteous work fruitful).

4.12.11

sarvātmany acyute 'sarve tīvraughāṃ bhaktim udvahan /
dadarśātmani bhūteṣu tam evāvasthitaṃ vibhum //

Bearing an intense flow of devotion toward the imperishable Lord, the self of all and beyond all, / he saw that all-pervading Lord alone residing within himself and within all beings.

11. Having cherished intense devotion to Achyuta (the unchanging Lord) who is in the form of everything and is yet

different from all, he (Dhruva) saw the same all-pervading Lord present in his own self and in all other beings.

4.12.12

tam evaṃ śīla-sampannaṃ brahmaṇyaṃ dīna-vatsalam /
goptāraṃ dharma-setūnāṃ menire pitaraṃ prajāḥ //

Endowed with such character, devoted to Brahmins, kind to the destitute, / and the guardian of the bridges of dharma, the subjects regarded him as their father.

12. His subjects regarded him as their father —him who was thus good-natured and virtuous, devoted to Brahman (and Brahmins) and tender to the afflicted and who was the protector of the defence of Righteousness (who safeguarded Dharma).

4.12.13

ṣaṭ-triṃśad-varṣa-sāhasraṃ śaśāsa kṣiti-maṇḍalam /
bhogaiḥ puṇya-kṣayaṃ kurvann abhogair aśubha-kṣayam //

For thirty-six thousand years he ruled the earth, / exhausting his merit through pleasures and destroying the inauspicious through non-enjoyment.

13. He governed the earth for thirty-six-thousand years, while he tried to exhaust his merit of virtuous deeds by enjoying unobjectionable pleasures and rid himself of (all) evil consequences by means of self-denial.

4.12.14

evaṃ bahu-savaṃ kālaṃ mahātmāvicalendriyaḥ /
tri-vargaupayikaṃ nītvā putrāyādān nṛpāsanam //

Having thus spent much time marked by many sacrifices, his senses unswerving, / in pursuit of the three aims of life, the great-souled one handed over the royal throne to his son.

14. Having thus spent a very very long period in righteous works leading to the attainment of the three purposes viz. (Dharma, Artha and Kāma), the high-souled Dhruva with perfect control over his senses, at last made over his throne to his son.

4.12.15

manyamāna idaṃ viśvaṃ māyā-racitam ātmani /
avidyā-racita-svapna-gandharva-nagaropamam //

Regarding this entire universe within the self as fashioned by creative power, / comparable to a dream or an illusory city fashioned by ignorance,

15. Understanding that this universe is projected upon Atman by force of Māyā and it was like the city of the Gandharvas (a fanciful creation) in dreams produced by nescience;

4.12.15.p1

ātma-stry-apatya-suhṛdo balam ṛddha-kośam $ antaḥ-puraṃ parivihāra-bhuvaś ca ramyāḥ &

considering his body, wife, children, friends, army, prosperous treasury, inner apartments, delightful pleasure grounds,

16. Having conclusively perceived that this body, wife and children, friends and strength, the replete treasury, the palace and its harem, the charming pleasure grounds and gardens and the whole earth bound by the deep were all limited by time (i. e., perishable), he retired to Visālā.

4.12.16

bhū-maṇḍalaṃ jaladhi-mekhalam ākalayya % kālopasṛṣṭam iti sa prayayau viśālām //

and the circle of the earth girdled by the ocean to be under the sway of time, he set forth for Badarikāśrama.

4.12.16.p2

tasyāṃ viśuddha-karaṇaḥ śiva-vār vigāhya $ baddhvāsanaṃ jita-marun manasāhṛtākṣaḥ &

There, his senses purified, having bathed in auspicious waters, sitting in an established posture with breath conquered, having retracted the senses by the mind,

17. At Visālā he bathed in the sacred waters, attained serenity of mind; and, being firm in his seat and having controlled his breaths, he restrained the senses along with the mind and fixed it upon (contemplated) the gross form of the Lord, i. e. the

4.12.16.p3

tasyāṃ viśuddha-karaṇaḥ śiva-vār vigāhya $ baddhvāsanaṃ jita-marun manasāhṛtākṣaḥ &

there, his senses purified, having bathed in auspicious waters, sitting in an established posture with breath conquered, having retracted the senses by the mind,

4.12.17

sthūle dadhāra bhagavat-pratirūpa etad % dhyāyaṃs tad avyavahito vyasṛjat samādhau //

he fixed his mind on the Lord's cosmic form; meditating on that without interruption, he cast off even that in deep absorption.

world itself called Virāt-Rūpa; and meditating on it he lost the consciousness of being separate from the object of his contemplation and was finally rid of the gross environment.

4.12.17.p2

bhaktiṃ harau bhagavati pravahann ajasram $ ānanda-bāṣpa-kalayā muhur ardyamānaḥ &

Incessantly flowing with devotion to the Lord Hari, repeatedly overcome with drops of tears of joy,

18. He cherished uninterrupted devotion to the glorious Lord Hari and was often bathed in blissful tears; his heart melting in intense devotion (and the realisation of the Lord) and the hair standing all over his body, he ceased to think of his own self; and thus he stood severed from attachment to the gross environment.

4.12.17.p3

bhaktiṃ harau bhagavati pravahann ajasram $ ānanda-bāṣpa-kalayā muhur ardyamānaḥ &

incessantly flowing with devotion to the Lord Hari, repeatedly overcome with drops of tears of joy,

4.12.18

viklidyamāna-hṛdayaḥ pulakācitāṅgo % nātmānam asmarad asāv iti mukta-liṅgaḥ //

with his heart softening and his body bristling with thrills of joy, he did not remember his own self; thus his subtle body was dissolved.

4.12.19

sa dadarśa vimānāgryaṃ nabhaso 'vatarad dhruvaḥ /
vibhrājayad daśa diśo rākāpatim ivoditam //

Dhruva saw an excellent celestial chariot descending from the sky, / illuminating the ten directions like the risen full moon.

19. While in this state Dhruva saw an excellent car descending from the sky illumining the ten cardinal points even like the rising moon on the full-moon night.

4.12.19.p1

tatrānu deva-pravarau catur-bhujau $ śyāmau kiśorāv aruṇāmbujekṣaṇau &

Thereupon [he saw] two foremost gods, four-armed, / dark-complexioned, youthful, with eyes like red lotuses,

20. In the car he noticed two important celestials having four arms, of a blue complexion, of youthful age, with eyes bright like red lotuses, armed with *gadā*, wearing beautiful attire and adorned with crowns, wreaths of pearls, *Angadas* and charming ear-rings.

4.12.20

sthitāv avaṣṭabhya gadāṃ suvāsasau % kirīṭa-hārāṅgada-cāru-kuṇḍalau //

standing leaning upon clubs, beautifully dressed, / wearing crowns, necklaces, armlets, and lovely earrings.

4.12.20.p2

vijñāya tāv uttamagāya-kiṅkarāv $ abhyutthitaḥ sādhvasa-vismṛta-kramaḥ &

Recognizing them as servants of the Lord of highest praise, / he stood up, his proper etiquette forgotten in his awe,

21. Perceiving them to be the attendants of the most praised Lord Hari, he stood up, with joined hands and in hurry and confusion forgetting what was proper to do, prostrated himself uttering the names of Hari, as they were foremost among the Lord’s messengers.

4.12.20.p3

vijñāya tāv uttamagāya-kiṅkarāv $ abhyutthitaḥ sādhvasa-vismṛta-kramaḥ &

Recognizing them as servants of the Lord of highest praise, / he stood up, his proper etiquette forgotten in his awe,

4.12.21

nanāma nāmāni gṛṇan madhudviṣaḥ % pārṣat-pradhānāv iti saṃhatāñjaliḥ //

and bowed, chanting the names of the foe of Madhu, / his hands joined reverently before these chief attendants.

4.12.21.p2

taṃ kṛṣṇa-pādābhiniviṣṭa-cetasaṃ $ baddhāñjaliṃ praśraya-namra-kandharam &

Seeing him, his mind absorbed at Kṛṣṇa's feet, / his hands folded, his neck bowed in humility,

22. Sunanda and Nanda most beloved of Hari (Padmanābha) approached and smilingly spoke to him whose heart was set upon the feet of Sri Krishna and who stood with his hands joined and head bent in humility.

4.12.21.p3

taṃ kṛṣṇa-pādābhiniviṣṭa-cetasaṃ $ baddhāñjaliṃ praśraya-namra-kandharam &

Seeing him, his mind absorbed at Kṛṣṇa's feet, / his hands folded, his neck bowed in humility,

4.12.22

sunanda-nandāv upasṛtya sasmitaṃ % pratyūcatuḥ puṣkaranābha-sammatau //

Sunanda and Nanda, esteemed by the lotus-naveled Lord, / approached and addressed him with a smile.

4.12.23

/0 sunanda-nandāv ūcatuḥ
bho bho rājan subhadraṃ te vācaṃ no 'vahitaḥ śṛṇu /
yaḥ pañca-varṣas tapasā bhavān devam atītṛpat //

Sunanda and Nanda said:
O King, all good fortune to you! Listen attentively to our words,
you who, as a five-year-old boy, satisfied the Lord with your ascetic austerities.

23. Sunanda and Nanda said.—O king, blessed art thou! listen to our word with attention. Thou hadst propitiated the Lord by thy Tapas while yet a child of five years.

4.12.24

tasyākhila-jagad-dhātur āvāṃ devasya śārṅgiṇaḥ /
pārṣadāv iha samprāptau netuṃ tvāṃ bhagavat-padam //

We two are attendants of that Lord who bears the bow Śārṅga,
the supporter of all the worlds, arrived here to lead you to the Lord's abode.

24. We both attendants of that Lord who wields the bow called Sārnga and is the creator of all the universe, have now come here to convey thee to His abode.

4.12.25

sudurjayaṃ viṣṇu-padaṃ jitaṃ tvayā yat sūrayo 'prāpya vicakṣate param /
ātiṣṭha tac candra-divākarādayo graharkṣa-tārāḥ pariyanti dakṣiṇam //

You have conquered the abode of Viṣṇu, difficult to attain, which even sages fail to reach and only contemplate from afar.
Ascend to it, around which the moon, the sun, the planets, asterisms, and stars circumambulate keeping it to their right!

25. Thou hast obtained that place of Vishnu which is very hard to secure and which the sages not being able to reach look up to from below; do thou occupy that place round which go the sun, the moon, the planets, the stars and other luminous bodies of the sky.

4.12.26

anāsthitaṃ te pitṛbhir anyair apy aṅga karhicit /
ātiṣṭha jagatāṃ vandyaṃ tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam //

Never occupied by your ancestors, dear child, nor by any others,
ascend to that supreme abode of Viṣṇu, worshiped by all the worlds!

26. O child, do thou attain that most praiseworthy place of Vishnu which was not filled by any of thy forefathers;

4.12.27

etad vimāna-pravaram uttamaśloka-maulinā /
upasthāpitam āyuṣmann adhiroḍhuṃ tvam arhasi //

This foremost aerial vehicle has been sent
by the crown of those of highest renown; O long-lived one, you ought to ascend it.

27. An excellent celestial car has been brought to thee sent by Vishnu, the foremost among all that are glorious; be thou pleased to mount it.

4.12.28

/0 maitreya uvāca
niśamya vaikuṇṭha-niyojya-mukhyayor madhu-cyutaṃ vācam urukrama-priyaḥ /
kṛtābhiṣekaḥ kṛta-nitya-maṅgalo munīn praṇamyāśiṣam abhyavādayat //

Maitreya said:
Hearing the nectar-dripping words of the two chief servants of Vaikuṇṭha, he who was dear to the Lord of mighty strides,
having bathed, performed his daily auspicious rites, and bowed to the ascetics, accepted their blessings.

28. On hearing the honey-dripping words of the two chief attendants of Sri Hari, Dhruva, beloved of the omnipotent Lord, bathed and performed his daily duties and dressed himself auspiciously, bowed to the sages and received their blessings.

4.12.29

parītyābhyarcya dhiṣṇyāgryaṃ pārṣadāv abhivandya ca /
iyeṣa tad adhiṣṭhātuṃ bibhrad rūpaṃ hiraṇmayam //

Circumambulating and worshiping the foremost aerial chariot, and saluting the two attendants,
he, assuming a radiant golden form, prepared to mount it.

29. He went round and worshipped the divine vehicle and bowed to the Lord's attendants; and now his person shining brilliantly like gold, he wished (proceeded) to take his seat (in the car).

4.12.30

tadottānapadaḥ putro dadarśāntakam āgatam /
mṛtyor mūrdhni padaṃ dattvā ārurohādbhutaṃ gṛham //

Then the son of Uttānapāda saw Death approaching;
placing his foot upon the head of Death, he ascended the wonderful chariot.

30. Then (at that moment) the son of Uttānapāda saw Yama approach him; and having set his foot on his (Yama's) head (i. e. triumphing over death) mounted into that wonderful car. (Here the commentator tells the story thus:—When Dhruva was about to mount the car, Yama came up and requested that he might be received; and Dhruva welcomed him and asked him to stop a while, contemplated Vishnu and actually setting his foot on the head of Yama, he mounted the car).

4.12.31

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

Then kettledrums, mṛdaṅgas, paṇavas, and other drums resounded,
the chief Gandharvas sang aloud, and showers of flowers fell.

31. Then were sounded various instruments of music viz., Dundubhis, Mridangas, Panavas and others; the chief among the Ghandarvas loudly sang (his praise); and showers of flowers fell (on him).

4.12.32

sa ca svarlokam ārokṣyan sunītiṃ jananīṃ dhruvaḥ /
anvasmarad agaṃ hitvā dīnāṃ yāsye tri-viṣṭapam //

And as he was about to ascend to the heavenly world, Dhruva
remembered his mother Sunīti: “Leaving her behind, helpless, how shall I go to heaven?”

32. When about to soar away to the divine region, Dhruva remembered his mother Suniti and thought, "O how am I to go away to the inaccessible divine region leaving my poor mother behind?"

4.12.33

iti vyavasitaṃ tasya vyavasāya surottamau /
darśayām āsatur devīṃ puro yānena gacchatīm //

Understanding his thought, the two foremost gods
showed him his noble mother traveling ahead in an aerial vehicle.

33. The two great gods perceived (what troubled his mind) and showed him the brilliant queen his mother going in a vehicle in front of him.

4.12.34

tatra tatra praśaṃsadbhiḥ pathi vaimānikaiḥ suraiḥ /
avakīryamāṇo dadṛśe kusumaiḥ kramaśo grahān //

Praised here and there along the way by gods in their celestial cars
and showered with flowers, he beheld the planets in succession.

34. At every stage in his route, he was showered over with flowers by the gods riding in their celestial cars and praising his greatness, and he saw (went past) the planets in order one after another.

4.12.35

tri-lokīṃ deva-yānena so 'tivrajya munīn api /
parastād yad dhruva-gatir viṣṇoḥ padam athābhyagāt //

Surpassing the three worlds and even the sages via the path of the gods,
he whose course was steadfast then reached the realm of Viṣṇu beyond.

35. Having passed beyond the three worlds by means of his car (passing through Deva Mārga) and also beyond the sphere of the seven sages Dhruva, blessed with the permanent attainment, reached that abode appointed by Vishnu which lies far above (all other regions.)

4.12.36

yad bhrājamānaṃ sva-rucaiva sarvato lokās trayo hy anu vibhrājanta ete /
yan nāvrajan jantuṣu ye 'nanugrahā vrajanti bhadrāṇi caranti ye 'niśam //

Shining by its own splendor in all directions, after which these three worlds shine,
it is never reached by those who show no mercy to living beings, but by those who continually practice good deeds.

36. As depending upon this region which shines brilliantly by its own lustrous nature all these three worlds have light. It is a place to which those who did not obtain the grace of the Lord never attained and those that always do auspicious and righteous duties, do attain.

4.12.37

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

The peaceful, the impartial, the pure, those who delight all beings,
those whose dear friends are devoted to Acyuta, easily reach the abode of Acyuta.

37. Those who attain the tranquillity of mind, and look upon everything in equal light, who are, rid of all sin and impurity, kind and helpful to all beings and to whom Achyuta the Almighty Lord is the one beloved thing and relation—those surely attain to that abode of Achyuta (to that eternal abode).

4.12.38

ity uttānapadaḥ putro dhruvaḥ kṛṣṇa-parāyaṇaḥ /
abhūt trayāṇāṃ lokānāṃ cūḍā-maṇir ivāmalaḥ //

Thus Dhruva, the son of Uttānapāda, devoted to Kṛṣṇa,
became the spotless crest-jewel of the three worlds,

38. Thus Dhruva, the son of Uttānapada, absolutely devoted to Sri Krishna, shone like a faultless gem forming the crown of the three worlds.

4.12.39

gambhīra-vego 'nimiṣaṃ jyotiṣāṃ cakram āhitam /
yasmin bhramati kauravya meḍhyām iva gavāṃ gaṇaḥ //

in which the wheel of celestial luminaries, moving with profound velocity and never winking,
is fixed, revolving, O Kauravya, like a herd of cattle around a central post.

39. Attached to this (central) place the whole body of the heavenly luminaries, O descendant of Kuru, ceaselessly makes its rotations like many pairs of cattle attached to Medhi.

4.12.40

mahimānaṃ vilokyāsya nārado bhagavān ṛṣiḥ /
ātodyaṃ vitudañ ślokān satre 'gāyat pracetasām //

Beholding his greatness, the venerable sage Nārada,
plucking the strings of his lute, sang verses at the sacrificial session of the Pracetases:

40. Observing his greatness, the illustrious Rishi Nãrada played upon Vinā and sang these verses in the sacrificial hall of Prachetasas (Bramha).

4.12.41

/0 nārada uvāca
nūnaṃ sunīteḥ pati-devatāyās tapaḥ-prabhāvasya sutasya tāṃ gatim /
dṛṣṭvābhyupāyān api veda-vādino naivādhigantuṃ prabhavanti kiṃ nṛpāḥ //

Nārada said:
Truly, seeing that attainment of the son of Sunīti, devoted to her husband, an attainment achieved by the power of his asceticism,
even the knowers of the Vedas with all their means cannot reach it; what then to speak of kings?

41. Nārada said.—Indeed even after observing that attainment of Dhruva of powerful Tapas, the son of Suniti who looked upon her husband as the deity, and even after knowing what duties are most delightful to the Lord, the Rishis who are ever pouring out the Vedas, are not able to attain it; and how could then princes of the earth attain it?

4.12.42

yaḥ pañca-varṣo guru-dāra-vāk-śarair bhinnena yāto hṛdayena dūyatā /
vanaṃ mad-ādeśa-karo 'jitaṃ prabhuṃ jigāya tad-bhakta-guṇaiḥ parājitam //

He who, at five years of age, pierced by the word-arrows of his stepmother and distressed in heart,
went to the forest, obeyed my instruction, and conquered the unconquerable Lord, who is conquered only by the virtues of His devotees.

42. A child of five years of age, with a painful heart wounded with the arrow-like words of his step-mother (lit. another wife of his father), he betook himself to the forest and there doing what I told him, he has attained the grace of the unconquered Lord who is prevailed upon (only) by the excellent qualities of His votaries.

4.12.43

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

What mere kṣatriya on earth could hope to ascend to the height he attained, even in heaps of years,
which this child of five or six years, having pleased Vaikuṇṭha in a few days, attained as His abode?

43. Could any one born of a Kshatriya even think of attaining to that position even through many many years—the position to which the child of five or six years of age attained, having won the grace of Hari in the course of a few days?

4.12.44

/0 maitreya uvāca
etat te 'bhihitaṃ sarvaṃ yat pṛṣṭo 'ham iha tvayā /
dhruvasyoddāma-yaśasaś caritaṃ sammataṃ satām //

Maitreya said:
All this has been recounted to you as I was asked by you here,
the life of Dhruva of boundless fame, esteemed by virtuous devotees.

44. Maitreya said.—(O Vidura), I have told you all about which you inquired of me in this connection i.e., the whole history most agreeable to the righteous, of Dhruva of great renown.

4.12.45

dhanyaṃ yaśasyam āyuṣyaṃ puṇyaṃ svasty-ayanaṃ mahat /
svargyaṃ dhrauvyaṃ saumanasyaṃ praśasyam agha-marṣaṇam //

It bestows wealth, fame, and long life; it is meritorious, a great source of auspiciousness,
giving heaven, steadfast position, peace of mind; it is praiseworthy and wipes away all sins.

45. It is a history that (when heard and known) leads to happiness and glory, and brings long life and merit; it is a great source of all auspiciousness; it is helpful in attaining to Svarga or the eternal abode; it promotes good-will and good disposition, deserves to be commended and absolves people from their sin.

4.12.46

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

Hearing this conduct of one dear to Acyuta repeatedly with faith,
one develops devotion to the Lord, by which afflictions are destroyed.

46. By constantly listening with faith to this biography of the beloved votary of the Lord, devotion to Him is sure to be engendered and thereby the miseries of Samsāra come to an end.

4.12.47

mahattvam icchatāṃ tīrthaṃ śrotuḥ śīlādayo guṇāḥ /
yatra tejas tad icchūnāṃ māno yatra manasvinām //

For those desiring greatness it is a sacred pilgrimage; to the hearer it grants good character and other virtues;
therein lies splendor for those who seek it, and honor for the high-minded.

47. This story is a fountain (to drink from) for those that seek after greatness; when it is listened to, good nature, good habits and other excellent qualities develop in the listener; heroic spirit and splendour develop in those that desire it; and respectability in those that are thoughtful and desirous of it.

4.12.48

prayataḥ kīrtayet prātaḥ samavāye dvi-janmanām /
sāyaṃ ca puṇya-ślokasya dhruvasya caritaṃ mahat //

One should attentively recite in the morning and in the evening, in an assembly of the twice-born,
the great narrative of Dhruva, whose fame is purifying.

48. One ought to cleanse himself and bathe and sing this glorious story of Dhruva of pious name both morning and evening before an assembly of Brahmins.

4.12.49

paurṇamāsyāṃ sinīvālyāṃ dvādaśyāṃ śravaṇe 'thavā /
dina-kṣaye vyatīpāte saṅkrame 'rkadine 'pi vā //

On the full moon, on the new moon, on the twelfth lunar day, or under the asterism Śravaṇa,
at the end of a day, during Vyatīpāta, on a solstice, or on a Sunday,

49 & 50. Any one who is devoted to the hallowed feet of Sri Hari and who on a full moon day or Sinivali, Dwadasi, Śravaṇa, or Dinakshaya, Vyatipata, Sankrama, or on Sundays, relates this

4.12.50

śrāvayec chraddadhānānāṃ tīrtha-pāda-padāśrayaḥ /
necchaṃs tatrātmanātmānaṃ santuṣṭa iti sidhyati //

taking shelter at the feet of the Lord whose feet are holy, one should recite it to the faithful,
desiring nothing for oneself, contented in oneself; thus one attains perfection.

story to the faithful, without any desires and being self-contented—that person attains divine grace.

4.12.51

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

Whoever gives this nectar of knowledge to one ignorant of the truth, leading him to the path of the virtuous—
the gods shower their favor upon that compassionate protector of the poor.

51. The gods show their favour to him who, full of mercy and helpful to the afflicted, imparts this knowledge, the nectar on the path of the righteous (on the path leading to the Lord), to one that has no knowledge of truth.

4.12.52

idaṃ mayā te 'bhihitaṃ kurūdvaha dhruvasya vikhyāta-viśuddha-karmaṇaḥ /
hitvārbhakaḥ krīḍanakāni mātur gṛhaṃ ca viṣṇuṃ śaraṇaṃ yo jagāma //

This has been recounted by me to you, O best of Kurus, concerning Dhruva of renowned and spotless deeds,
who, while still a boy, gave up his toys and his mother's home and went to Viṣṇu for refuge.

52. O foremost son of Kurus, I have related to thee this story of Dhruva renowned for his pious ways who as a child left his playthings and his mother's house and sought refuge with Vishnu.