Skandapurana 4.19
English (machine translation) 4.19
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4.19.1
Śivaśarman said:
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“Standing on one foot, who is this revolving, O best of beings,
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the tips of whose hands are busy with many cords, and whose eyes are roving? // 1
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Resembling a pillar of the pavilion of the three worlds, enveloped in splendours,
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as though weighing the matchless mass of luminaries on a balance; // 2
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like a master builder measuring the expanse of the sky;
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or Trivikrama's upright leg-post standing tall in the courtyard of the sky; // 3
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or bearing the form of the central sacrificial post in the lake of the heavens?
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Who is he? Speak of him to me, O divine ones, out of your supreme grace!” // 4
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Hearing these words of their friend, the two traveling in the aerial chariot,
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the two attendants, out of affection related to him the fixed story of Dhruva: // 5
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The two attendants said:
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“Manu Svāyambhuva had a son named Uttānacaraṇa.
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To that lord of the earth, O brahmin, two sons were born: // 6
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the elder, Uttama, by Suruci, and the other, Dhruva, by Sunīti.
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Once, while the king was seated in the midst of the royal assembly, // 7
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the decorated child, devoted to humility,
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Dhruva, was sent by Sunīti together with the foster-mothers' sons to attend upon the king. // 8
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Having gone, he bowed down to King Uttānacaraṇa,
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and seeing Uttama seated in his father's lap, // 9
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out of childish fickleness, towards the king seated upon his elevated throne,
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the son of Sunīti, Dhruva, then desired to climb up. // 10
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Seeing him wishing to climb up, Suruci said to Dhruva:
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‘O son of an unfavoured wife, why do you wish to climb into the lap of the lord of the earth? // 11
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Owing to your childish and foolish mind, O you who were born from the womb of an unfortunate woman,
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no virtuous deed was performed by you to sit upon this throne! // 12
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If there were virtuous merit, why did you go into the womb of an unfavoured wife?
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By this very inference, recognise your own lack of merit! // 13
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Even though born a prince, you did not adorn my womb.
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Look at this unexcelled Uttama, born of an auspicious womb, // 14
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magnified with honour on the lap of the king of the earth!
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If you have a desire to climb this lofty throne, // 15
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why, forsaking the womb of Suruci of bright splendour, did you dwell [in Sunīti's]?’
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Thus rebuked by her in the middle of the royal court, the boy, // 16
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swallowing the tears that were falling, said nothing out of fortitude.
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Nor did that king say anything, whether proper or improper, // 17
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restrained by the queen due to the weight of her good fortune.
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Wiping his eyes before the assembly and wiping away his grief with childlike actions, // 18
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the child bowed down to the king and went to his own abode.
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Then Sunīti, beholding the boy who was an abode of proper conduct, // 19
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knew immediately from the appearance of his face that Dhruva had been insulted.
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Approaching the child and kissing his head once, // 20
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she embraced him soothingly as he appeared somewhat withered.
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Then, seeing Sunīti residing alone in the inner apartments, // 21
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sighing deeply again and again, he wept before his mother.
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Consoling him with tearful eyes and wiping his face // 22
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with the soft edge of her fine cloth and with her gentle hand,
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the mother asked her son: ‘Tell me the cause of your weeping.
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While the king was present, by whom were you insulted, child?’ // 23
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Rinsing his mouth and taking betel,
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Dhruva, questioned by his mother with gentle restraint, said to her: // 24
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‘I ask you, mother; tell me truly before me:
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even though the status of wife is equal, how is that Suruci the beloved? // 25
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Why, mother, are you not beloved to the king of the earth?
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How has Uttama, the son of Suruci, attained the state of being supreme? // 26
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Even though our status as princes is equal, why am I not supreme?
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Why are you unfortunate, and how is Suruci blessed with a good womb?’ // 27
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How is the king's throne fit for Uttama, and how is it not for me?
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How is my merit trifling, and how is Uttama's supreme?"
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Hearing this speech of that prudent child, Sunīti,
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sighing slightly, slowly, in order to calm the child's anger,
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began to speak words naturally sweet.
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Casting aside hostility toward her co-wife, best among those knowing statecraft,
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Sunīti said:
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"O child of great intellect, with a pure inner self
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I explain everything to you; do not set your mind on insult.
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Whatever she said is entirely true and not otherwise.
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She is the king's queen with offspring, dearest among queens.
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O child, by the merit that was accumulated by her in another birth,
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from that accumulation of merit, the king takes great delight in Suruci.
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Those like me, unfortunate ones, remain among ordinary women;
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for them there is only the designation of being the king's wives, not his affection.
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By heaps of great merit, Uttama dwelt in the belly of that excellent,
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meritorious woman, and so he is worthy of the royal lion-throne.
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A parasol shining like the moon, two auspicious fly-whisks,
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likewise a high, splendid throne, and rutting elephants,
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swift steeds, a life free from mental anguish and disease,
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an auspicious kingdom free of rivals, abundant worship of Hari and Hara,
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vast knowledge of the arts, unrivaled erudition,
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victory over the six internal enemies, a mind naturally sattvic,
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a gaze full of compassion, speech sweetly spoken,
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absence of indolence in duties, and reverence toward elders,
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purity everywhere, my child, continual service to others,
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a vigorous disposition of mind, speech always free of weakness,
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learning in the assembly, boldness in the courtyard of battle,
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straightforwardness among kinsmen, firmness in buying and selling,
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gentleness in dealing with women, and tenderness toward subjects,
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constant reverence before brahmins, living by the conduct of the aged,
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dwelling on the bank of the Bhāgīrathī, or death at a sacred ford or in battle,
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never turning away from petitioners, and especially not from adversaries,
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enjoyment together with attendants, the dawn of each day never devoid of gifts,
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constant devotion to learning, constant service to one's parents,
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continual accumulation of fame, continual accumulation of righteousness,
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attainment of heaven and final liberation, and good character as an eternal ornament,
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continual association with the good, friendship with the friends of one's father,
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an eager longing always to listen to the Itihāsas and Purāṇas,
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supreme fortitude even in adversity, steadiness in the arrival of prosperity,
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gravity in elegant speech, and generosity toward worthy recipients—
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with only emaciation in the body through austerities, observances, and restraints—
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with these fruits fulfilling desires, the trees of austerity surely bear fruit.
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Therefore, O wise one, because of our meager austerity,
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both you and I, despite having attained the king's proximity, are not vessels of royal fortune.
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Therefore, one's own past actions are the supreme cause of honor and dishonor.
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Even the Creator cannot wipe away the action wrought by oneself.
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Do not grieve, therefore, my son; destiny delivers what has been willed.
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Having heard that great, highly prudent speech of Sunīti,
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the son of Sunīti, Dhruva, began to speak words in reply.
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Dhruva said:
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"O mother Sunīti, listen to my untroubled words.
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Do not despise me, O ascetic lady, thinking me to be a child.
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If I am born in the lineage of Manu, which is exceedingly pure,
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the son of Uttānapāda and born from your womb,
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and if indeed austerity alone, O mother, is the cause of all fortunes,
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then know that state, unattainable by others, to have already been attained.
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Render me just one assistance, O mother, without hesitation:
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merely granting your permission, and greet me with blessings."
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She, too, knowing that the child born of her womb possessed great prowess,
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resplendent with an immense surge of resolve, she spoke to him: // 56
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“I am not capable of granting permission to you, my infant son who lies on his back,
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who are barely eight or nine years of age; and yet, I shall speak. // 57
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Since my great heart has been pierced by the lance-like words of my co-wife,
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your torrents of tears do not cease; what am I to do? // 58
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I think they are flowing ceaselessly by this path, child,
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and verily wish to become rivers whose waters go against the current. // 59
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I have you as my only son, dear child; my very life has you as its sole support;
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you are my slender body’s staff, and my eyes are ever fixed upon your face. // 60
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Through how many hardships were you obtained, after praying to chosen deities!
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At the rising of the moon of your face, my child, the ocean of milk that is my mind, // 61
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filling my breasts with the milk of bliss, overflows its bounds.
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Cooled by the abundant joy born of contact with your limbs, // 62
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I sleep comfortably on a soft couch, wrapping myself in a garment of horripilation.
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Having sipped water and accepted betel, // 63
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[your mouth] made to swell by the ocean of milk from the cavity of your lips—
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even drinking in that nectar, O moon-faced one, I am not satiated! // 64
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Whenever your soothing chatter entered the path of my hearing,
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the torment caused by the words of my co-wife—even that trembling—instantly subsided. // 65
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When, darling, you slept for long, I would ponder:
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‘When will he be rid of sleep, like a lotus at sunrise?’ // 66
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When, child, you returned home after playing children’s games,
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then my breasts would be poised, as it were, to offer an invaluable guest-offering. // 67
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Whenever you stepped out of the palace, your foot marked with the sign of a lotus
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was then the support of your life-breaths that sought to depart. // 68
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Whenever, son, you went outside just three or four steps,
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each time my breath became a guest in my throat. // 69
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Wondrous it is, son, that the bird of my mind is in haste to depart,
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as if a cloud of nectar, when you linger outside for long! // 70
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Now let my cruel life-breaths remain on the edge of the forest of my throat,
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performing austerities, deeply tormented, as you depart for austerities.” // 71
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Having thus received permission, Dhruva placed his head
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for a moment upon his mother’s lotus feet, moistening them with the clay of his crown, and departed. // 72
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She too, having strung it with the thread of fortitude,
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offered a garland born of the blue lotuses of her eyes as a parting gift to Dhruva, Sunīti did. // 73
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Then his mother sent after him, to protect his path,
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hundreds upon hundreds of her own blessings, whose advance could not be checked by foes. // 74
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Departing from his palace, the boy, who possessed no childish valor,
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entered the forest, his path shown by a favorable breeze. // 75
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Under the pretext of the tree branches stretching their tips in the breeze,
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he entered the forest as though summoned with love by the forest. // 76
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Having his mother as his only deity, familiar only with the royal road,
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the prince did not know the forest path, and meditated for a moment. // 77
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As Dhruva opened his eyes and looked forward,
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he saw in the forest the Seven Seers, whose movement was unexpected. // 78
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To the ignorant and the helpless, destiny becomes an ally:
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in the dense wilderness, in battle, or at home, destiny alone is indeed the cause. // 79
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Where is the young royal child, and where is that impenetrable forest?
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Homage to you, O Destiny, who forcibly bring everything under your own sway! // 80
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Where and for whom whatever is destined to occur, whether good or ill,
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drawing him there, the rope of destiny indeed brings it to pass for him. // 81
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A mortal plans one way through the power of his intellect,
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yet through divine Destiny, Fate arranges it otherwise. // 82
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Neither youth nor variety nor diverse efforts fulfill a purpose;
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neither strength nor endeavor is the cause for men—deeds done in a past life are. // 83
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Then, seeing the Seven Seers, who surpassed the sun in brilliance,
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brought near as if drawn by the cords of destiny, he rejoiced. // 84
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Their noble foreheads were marked with sectarian lines, their fingers held kuśa grass,
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they were seated upon black-antelope skins and adorned with sacred threads, // 85
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their hands held rosaries, and their eyes were slightly closed.
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covered with well-washed, fine reddish garments,
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illustrious [sages] gathered unexpectedly like the seven oceans,
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wondrously, as if desiring to deliver the people submerged in misfortune.
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Approaching, humble, with folded hands,
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Dhruva, having bowed down, made a request in charming words:
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Dhruva said:
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"Know me, best of sages, as born from the womb of Sunīti,
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Dhruva, son of Uttānapāda, whose mind is filled with dejection,
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who has arrived in this forest made protected by your feet,
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generally ignorant of everything, yet whose mind dwells on great prosperity."
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Seeing that vigorous boy of naturally charming appearance,
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a priceless ornament to the eyes, speaking softly and deeply,
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they made the child sit near them and, exceedingly astonished, said:
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"Ah, large-eyed boy, prince of the great king!
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Even after reflecting, we do not understand; tell [us] the cause of your dejection.
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Today you have no concern for wealth; where was there an insult in your mother's house?
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Your bodily health is sound; what indeed could be the cause of your dejection?
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Dispassion arises in men whose desires are unfulfilled.
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How is it that you, a prince of the king who rules the seven continents, [feel] thus?
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In this world of diverse natures, the inner thought
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of a youth, an old man, or a child cannot indeed be easily understood."
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Hearing their words, filled with natural affection,
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that child of lofty ambition then began to speak.
Dhruva said:
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Linked texts (1)
- Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit