Skandapurana 4.19

Śivaśarman said:

“Standing on one foot, who is this revolving, O best of beings,

the tips of whose hands are busy with many cords, and whose eyes are roving? // 1

Resembling a pillar of the pavilion of the three worlds, enveloped in splendours,

as though weighing the matchless mass of luminaries on a balance; // 2

like a master builder measuring the expanse of the sky;

or Trivikrama's upright leg-post standing tall in the courtyard of the sky; // 3

or bearing the form of the central sacrificial post in the lake of the heavens?

Who is he? Speak of him to me, O divine ones, out of your supreme grace!” // 4

Hearing these words of their friend, the two traveling in the aerial chariot,

the two attendants, out of affection related to him the fixed story of Dhruva: // 5

The two attendants said:

“Manu Svāyambhuva had a son named Uttānacaraṇa.

To that lord of the earth, O brahmin, two sons were born: // 6

the elder, Uttama, by Suruci, and the other, Dhruva, by Sunīti.

Once, while the king was seated in the midst of the royal assembly, // 7

the decorated child, devoted to humility,

Dhruva, was sent by Sunīti together with the foster-mothers' sons to attend upon the king. // 8

Having gone, he bowed down to King Uttānacaraṇa,

and seeing Uttama seated in his father's lap, // 9

out of childish fickleness, towards the king seated upon his elevated throne,

the son of Sunīti, Dhruva, then desired to climb up. // 10

Seeing him wishing to climb up, Suruci said to Dhruva:

‘O son of an unfavoured wife, why do you wish to climb into the lap of the lord of the earth? // 11

Owing to your childish and foolish mind, O you who were born from the womb of an unfortunate woman,

no virtuous deed was performed by you to sit upon this throne! // 12

If there were virtuous merit, why did you go into the womb of an unfavoured wife?

By this very inference, recognise your own lack of merit! // 13

Even though born a prince, you did not adorn my womb.

Look at this unexcelled Uttama, born of an auspicious womb, // 14

magnified with honour on the lap of the king of the earth!

If you have a desire to climb this lofty throne, // 15

why, forsaking the womb of Suruci of bright splendour, did you dwell [in Sunīti's]?’

Thus rebuked by her in the middle of the royal court, the boy, // 16

swallowing the tears that were falling, said nothing out of fortitude.

Nor did that king say anything, whether proper or improper, // 17

restrained by the queen due to the weight of her good fortune.

Wiping his eyes before the assembly and wiping away his grief with childlike actions, // 18

the child bowed down to the king and went to his own abode.

Then Sunīti, beholding the boy who was an abode of proper conduct, // 19

knew immediately from the appearance of his face that Dhruva had been insulted.

Approaching the child and kissing his head once, // 20

she embraced him soothingly as he appeared somewhat withered.

Then, seeing Sunīti residing alone in the inner apartments, // 21

sighing deeply again and again, he wept before his mother.

Consoling him with tearful eyes and wiping his face // 22

with the soft edge of her fine cloth and with her gentle hand,

the mother asked her son: ‘Tell me the cause of your weeping.

While the king was present, by whom were you insulted, child?’ // 23

Rinsing his mouth and taking betel,

Dhruva, questioned by his mother with gentle restraint, said to her: // 24

‘I ask you, mother; tell me truly before me:

even though the status of wife is equal, how is that Suruci the beloved? // 25

Why, mother, are you not beloved to the king of the earth?

How has Uttama, the son of Suruci, attained the state of being supreme? // 26

Even though our status as princes is equal, why am I not supreme?

Why are you unfortunate, and how is Suruci blessed with a good womb?’ // 27

How is the king's throne fit for Uttama, and how is it not for me?

How is my merit trifling, and how is Uttama's supreme?"

Hearing this speech of that prudent child, Sunīti,

sighing slightly, slowly, in order to calm the child's anger,

began to speak words naturally sweet.

Casting aside hostility toward her co-wife, best among those knowing statecraft,

Sunīti said:

"O child of great intellect, with a pure inner self

I explain everything to you; do not set your mind on insult.

Whatever she said is entirely true and not otherwise.

She is the king's queen with offspring, dearest among queens.

O child, by the merit that was accumulated by her in another birth,

from that accumulation of merit, the king takes great delight in Suruci.

Those like me, unfortunate ones, remain among ordinary women;

for them there is only the designation of being the king's wives, not his affection.

By heaps of great merit, Uttama dwelt in the belly of that excellent,

meritorious woman, and so he is worthy of the royal lion-throne.

A parasol shining like the moon, two auspicious fly-whisks,

likewise a high, splendid throne, and rutting elephants,

swift steeds, a life free from mental anguish and disease,

an auspicious kingdom free of rivals, abundant worship of Hari and Hara,

vast knowledge of the arts, unrivaled erudition,

victory over the six internal enemies, a mind naturally sattvic,

a gaze full of compassion, speech sweetly spoken,

absence of indolence in duties, and reverence toward elders,

purity everywhere, my child, continual service to others,

a vigorous disposition of mind, speech always free of weakness,

learning in the assembly, boldness in the courtyard of battle,

straightforwardness among kinsmen, firmness in buying and selling,

gentleness in dealing with women, and tenderness toward subjects,

constant reverence before brahmins, living by the conduct of the aged,

dwelling on the bank of the Bhāgīrathī, or death at a sacred ford or in battle,

never turning away from petitioners, and especially not from adversaries,

enjoyment together with attendants, the dawn of each day never devoid of gifts,

constant devotion to learning, constant service to one's parents,

continual accumulation of fame, continual accumulation of righteousness,

attainment of heaven and final liberation, and good character as an eternal ornament,

continual association with the good, friendship with the friends of one's father,

an eager longing always to listen to the Itihāsas and Purāṇas,

supreme fortitude even in adversity, steadiness in the arrival of prosperity,

gravity in elegant speech, and generosity toward worthy recipients—

with only emaciation in the body through austerities, observances, and restraints—

with these fruits fulfilling desires, the trees of austerity surely bear fruit.

Therefore, O wise one, because of our meager austerity,

both you and I, despite having attained the king's proximity, are not vessels of royal fortune.

Therefore, one's own past actions are the supreme cause of honor and dishonor.

Even the Creator cannot wipe away the action wrought by oneself.

Do not grieve, therefore, my son; destiny delivers what has been willed.

Having heard that great, highly prudent speech of Sunīti,

the son of Sunīti, Dhruva, began to speak words in reply.

Dhruva said:

"O mother Sunīti, listen to my untroubled words.

Do not despise me, O ascetic lady, thinking me to be a child.

If I am born in the lineage of Manu, which is exceedingly pure,

the son of Uttānapāda and born from your womb,

and if indeed austerity alone, O mother, is the cause of all fortunes,

then know that state, unattainable by others, to have already been attained.

Render me just one assistance, O mother, without hesitation:

merely granting your permission, and greet me with blessings."

She, too, knowing that the child born of her womb possessed great prowess,

resplendent with an immense surge of resolve, she spoke to him: // 56

“I am not capable of granting permission to you, my infant son who lies on his back,

who are barely eight or nine years of age; and yet, I shall speak. // 57

Since my great heart has been pierced by the lance-like words of my co-wife,

your torrents of tears do not cease; what am I to do? // 58

I think they are flowing ceaselessly by this path, child,

and verily wish to become rivers whose waters go against the current. // 59

I have you as my only son, dear child; my very life has you as its sole support;

you are my slender body’s staff, and my eyes are ever fixed upon your face. // 60

Through how many hardships were you obtained, after praying to chosen deities!

At the rising of the moon of your face, my child, the ocean of milk that is my mind, // 61

filling my breasts with the milk of bliss, overflows its bounds.

Cooled by the abundant joy born of contact with your limbs, // 62

I sleep comfortably on a soft couch, wrapping myself in a garment of horripilation.

Having sipped water and accepted betel, // 63

[your mouth] made to swell by the ocean of milk from the cavity of your lips—

even drinking in that nectar, O moon-faced one, I am not satiated! // 64

Whenever your soothing chatter entered the path of my hearing,

the torment caused by the words of my co-wife—even that trembling—instantly subsided. // 65

When, darling, you slept for long, I would ponder:

‘When will he be rid of sleep, like a lotus at sunrise?’ // 66

When, child, you returned home after playing children’s games,

then my breasts would be poised, as it were, to offer an invaluable guest-offering. // 67

Whenever you stepped out of the palace, your foot marked with the sign of a lotus

was then the support of your life-breaths that sought to depart. // 68

Whenever, son, you went outside just three or four steps,

each time my breath became a guest in my throat. // 69

Wondrous it is, son, that the bird of my mind is in haste to depart,

as if a cloud of nectar, when you linger outside for long! // 70

Now let my cruel life-breaths remain on the edge of the forest of my throat,

performing austerities, deeply tormented, as you depart for austerities.” // 71

Having thus received permission, Dhruva placed his head

for a moment upon his mother’s lotus feet, moistening them with the clay of his crown, and departed. // 72

She too, having strung it with the thread of fortitude,

offered a garland born of the blue lotuses of her eyes as a parting gift to Dhruva, Sunīti did. // 73

Then his mother sent after him, to protect his path,

hundreds upon hundreds of her own blessings, whose advance could not be checked by foes. // 74

Departing from his palace, the boy, who possessed no childish valor,

entered the forest, his path shown by a favorable breeze. // 75

Under the pretext of the tree branches stretching their tips in the breeze,

he entered the forest as though summoned with love by the forest. // 76

Having his mother as his only deity, familiar only with the royal road,

the prince did not know the forest path, and meditated for a moment. // 77

As Dhruva opened his eyes and looked forward,

he saw in the forest the Seven Seers, whose movement was unexpected. // 78

To the ignorant and the helpless, destiny becomes an ally:

in the dense wilderness, in battle, or at home, destiny alone is indeed the cause. // 79

Where is the young royal child, and where is that impenetrable forest?

Homage to you, O Destiny, who forcibly bring everything under your own sway! // 80

Where and for whom whatever is destined to occur, whether good or ill,

drawing him there, the rope of destiny indeed brings it to pass for him. // 81

A mortal plans one way through the power of his intellect,

yet through divine Destiny, Fate arranges it otherwise. // 82

Neither youth nor variety nor diverse efforts fulfill a purpose;

neither strength nor endeavor is the cause for men—deeds done in a past life are. // 83

Then, seeing the Seven Seers, who surpassed the sun in brilliance,

brought near as if drawn by the cords of destiny, he rejoiced. // 84

Their noble foreheads were marked with sectarian lines, their fingers held kuśa grass,

they were seated upon black-antelope skins and adorned with sacred threads, // 85

their hands held rosaries, and their eyes were slightly closed.

covered with well-washed, fine reddish garments,

illustrious [sages] gathered unexpectedly like the seven oceans,

wondrously, as if desiring to deliver the people submerged in misfortune.

Approaching, humble, with folded hands,

Dhruva, having bowed down, made a request in charming words:

Dhruva said:

"Know me, best of sages, as born from the womb of Sunīti,

Dhruva, son of Uttānapāda, whose mind is filled with dejection,

who has arrived in this forest made protected by your feet,

generally ignorant of everything, yet whose mind dwells on great prosperity."

Seeing that vigorous boy of naturally charming appearance,

a priceless ornament to the eyes, speaking softly and deeply,

they made the child sit near them and, exceedingly astonished, said:

"Ah, large-eyed boy, prince of the great king!

Even after reflecting, we do not understand; tell [us] the cause of your dejection.

Today you have no concern for wealth; where was there an insult in your mother's house?

Your bodily health is sound; what indeed could be the cause of your dejection?

Dispassion arises in men whose desires are unfulfilled.

How is it that you, a prince of the king who rules the seven continents, [feel] thus?

In this world of diverse natures, the inner thought

of a youth, an old man, or a child cannot indeed be easily understood."

Hearing their words, filled with natural affection,

that child of lofty ambition then began to speak.
Dhruva said: