> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 4
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > Canto 4 Part 1

> > **************

> > Chapter Eight: Dhruva Maharaja Leaves Home for the Forest

> > *******

> > TEXT 1

> > maitreya uvaca

> > sanakadya naradas ca

> > rbhur hamso 'runir yatih

> > naite grhan brahma-suta

> > hy avasann urdhva-retasah

> > maitreyah uvaca--Maitreya said; sanaka-adyah--those headed by Sanaka; naradah--Narada; ca--and; rbhuh--Rbhu; hamsah--Hamsa; arunih--Aruni; yatih--Yati; na--not; ete--all these; grhan--at home; brahma-sutah--sons of Brahma; hi--certainly; avasan--did live; urdhva-retasah--unadulterated celibates.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great sage Maitreya said: The four great Kumara sages headed by Sanaka, as well as Narada, Rbhu, Hamsa, Aruni and Yati, all sons of Brahma did not live at home, but became urdhva-reta, or naisthika-brahmacaris, unadulterated celibates.

> > *******

> > TEXT 2

> > mrsadharmasya bharyasid

> > dambham mayam ca satru-han

> > asuta mithunam tat tu

> > nirrtir jagrhe 'prajah

> > mrsa--Mrsa; adharmasya--of Irreligion; bharya--wife; asit--was; dambham--Bluffing; mayam--Cheating; ca--and; satru-han--O slayer of enemies; asuta--produced; mithunam--combination; tat--that; tu--but; nirrtih--Nirrti; jagrhe--took; aprajah--being childless.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Another son of Lord Brahma was Irreligion, whose wife's name was Falsity. From their combination were born two demons named Dambha, or Bluffing, and Maya, or Cheating. These two demons were taken by a demon named Nirrti, who had no children.

> > *******

> > TEXT 3

> > tayoh samabhaval lobho

> > nikrtih ca maha-mate

> > tabhyam krodhas ca himsa ca

> > yad duruktih svasa kalih

> > tayoh--those two; samabhavat--were born; lobhah--Greed; nikrtih--Cunning; ca--and; maha-mate--O great soul; tabhyam--from both of them; krodhah--Anger; ca--and; himsa--Envy; ca--and; yat--from both of whom; duruktih--Harsh Speech; svasa--sister; kalih--Kali.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Maitreya told Vidura: O great soul, from Dambha and Maya were born Greed and Nikrti, or Cunning. From their combination came children named Krodha (Anger) and Himsa (Envy), and from their combination were born Kali and his sister Durukti (Harsh Speech).

> > *******

> > TEXT 4

> > duruktau kalir adhatta

> > bhayam mrtyum ca sattama

> > tayos ca mithunam jajne

> > yatana nirayas tatha

> > duruktau--in Durukti; kalih--Kali; adhatta--produced; bhayam--Fearfulness; mrtyum--Death; ca--and; sat-tama--O greatest of all good men; tayoh--of those two; ca--and; mithunam--by combination; jajne--were produced; yatana--Excessive Pain; nirayah--Hell; tatha--as well.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O greatest of all good men, by the combination of Kali and Harsh Speech were born children named Mrtyu (Death) and Bhiti (Fear). From the combination of Mrtyu and Bhiti came children named Yatana (Excessive Pain) and Niraya (Hell).

> > *******

> > TEXT 5

> > sangrahena mayakhyatah

> > pratisargas tavanagha

> > trih srutvaitat puman punyam

> > vidhunoty atmano malam

> > sangrahena--in summary; maya--by me; akhyatah--is explained; pratisargah--cause of devastation; tava--your; anagha--O pure one; trih--three times; srutva--having heard; etat--this description; puman--one who; punyam--piety; vidhunoti--washes off; atmanah--of the soul; malam--contamination.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Vidura, I have summarily explained the causes of devastation. One who hears this description three times attains piety and washes the sinful contamination from his soul.

> > *******

> > TEXT 6

> > athatah kirtaye vamsam

> > punya-kirteh kurudvaha

> > svayambh uvasyapi manor

> > harer amsamsa janmanah

> > atha--now; atah--hereafter; kirtaye--I shall describe; vamsam--dynasty; punya-kirteh--celebrated for virtuous activities; kuru-udvaha--O best of the Kurus; svayambhuvasya--of Svayambhuva; api--even; manoh--of the Manu; hareh--of the Personality of Godhead; amsa--plenary expansion; amsa--part of; janmanah--born of.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Maitreya continued: O best of the Kuru dynasty, I shall now describe before you the descendants of Svayambhuva Manu, who was born of a part of a plenary expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > *******

> > TEXT 7

> > priyavratottanapadau

> > satarupa-pateh sutau

> > vasudevasya kalaya

> > raksayam jagatah sthitau

> > priyavrata--Priyavrata; uttanapadau--Uttanapada; satarupa-pateh--of Queen Satarupa and her husband, Manu; sutau--the two sons; vasudevasya--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kalaya--by plenary expansion; raksayam--for the protection; jagatah--of the world; sthitau--for the maintenance.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Svayambhuva Manu had two sons by his wife, Satarupa, and the names of the sons were Uttanapada and Priyavrata. Because both of them were descendants of a plenary expansion of Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they were very competent to rule the universe to maintain and protect the citizens.

> > *******

> > TEXT 8

> > jaye uttanapadasya

> > sunitih surucis tayoh

> > surucih preyasi patyur

> > netara yat-suto dhruvah

> > jaye--of the two wives; uttanapadasya--of King Uttanapada; sunitih--Suniti; surucih--Suruci; tayoh--of both of them; surucih--Suruci; preyasi--very dear; patyuh--of the husband; na itara--not the other; yat--whose; sutah--son; dhruvah--Dhruva.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Uttanapada had two queens, named Suniti and Suruci. Suruci was much more dear to the King; Suniti, who had a son named Dhruva, was not his favorite.

> > *******

> > TEXT 9

> > ekada suruceh putram

> > ankam aropya lalayan

> > uttamam naruruksantam

> > dhruvam rajabhyanandata

> > ekada--once upon a time; suruceh--of Queen Suruci; putram--the son; ankam--on the lap; aropya--placing; lalayan--while patting; uttamam--Uttama; na--did not; aruruksantam--trying to get on; dhruvam--Dhruva; raja--the King; abhyanandata--welcome.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Once upon a time, King Uttanapada was patting the son of Suruci, Uttama, placing him on his lap. Dhruva Maharaja was also trying to get on the King's lap, but the King did not very much welcome him.

> > *******

> > TEXT 10

> > tatha cikirsamanam tam

> > sapatnyas tanayam dhruvam

> > surucih srnvato rajnah

> > sersyam ahatigarvita

> > tatha--thus; cikirsamanam--the child Dhruva, who was trying to get up; tam--unto him; sa-patnyah--of her co-wife (Suniti); tanayam--son; dhruvam--Dhruva; surucih--Queen Suruci; srnvatah--while hearing; rajnah--of the King; sa-irsyam--with envy; aha--said; atigarvita--being too proud.

> > TRANSLATION

> > While the child, Dhruva Maharaja, was trying to get on the lap of his father, Suruci, his stepmother, became very envious of the child, and with great pride she began to speak so as to be heard by the King himself.

> > *******

> > TEXT 11

> > na vatsa nrpater dhisnyam

> > bhavan arodhum arhati

> > na grhito maya yat tvam

> > kuksav api nrpatmajah

> > na--not; vatsa--my dear child; nrpateh--of the King; dhisnyam--seat; bhavan--yourself; arodhum--to get on; arhati--deserve; na--not; grhitah--taken; maya--by me; yat--because; tvam--you; kuksau--in the womb; api--although; nrpa-atmajah--son of the King.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Queen Suruci told Dhruva Maharaja: My dear child, you do not deserve to sit on the throne or on the lap of the King. Surely you are also the son of the King, but because you did not take your birth from my womb, you are not qualified to sit on your father's lap.

> > *******

> > TEXT 12

> > balo 'si bata natmanam

> > anya-stri-garbha-sambhrtam

> > nunam veda bhavan yasya

> > durlabhe 'rthe manorathah

> > balah--child; asi--you are; bata--however; na--not; atmanam--my own; anya--other; stri--woman; garbha--womb; sambhrtam--born by; nunam--however; veda--just try to know; bhavan--yourself; yasya--of which; durlabhe--unapproachable; arthe--matter; manah-rathah--desirous.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear child, you are unaware that you were born not of my womb but of another woman. Therefore you should know that your attempt is doomed to failure. You are trying to fulfill a desire which is impossible to fulfill.

> > *******

> > TEXT 13

> > tapasaradhya purusam

> > tasyaivanugrahena me

> > garbhe tvam sadhayatmanam

> > yadicchasi nrpasanam

> > tapasa--by austerities; aradhya--having satisfied; purusam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tasya--by His; eva--only; anugrahena--by the mercy of; me--my; garbhe--in the womb; tvam--you; sadhaya--place; atmanam--yourself; yadi--if; icchasi--you desire; nrpa-asanam--on the throne of the King.

> > TRANSLATION

> > If you at all desire to rise to the throne of the King, then you have to undergo severe austerities. First of all you must satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, and then, when you are favored by Him because of such worship, you shall have to take your next birth from my womb.

> > *******

> > TEXT 14

> > maitreya uvaca

> > matuh sapatnyah sa durukti-viddhah

> > svasan rusa danda-hato yathahih

> > hitva misantam pitaram sanna-vacam

> > jagama matuh prarudan sakasam

> > maitreyah uvaca--the great sage Maitreya said; matuh--of his mother; sa-patnyah--of the co-wife; sah--he; durukti--harsh words; viddhah--being pierced by; svasan--breathing very heavily; rusa--out of anger; danda-hatah--struck by a stick; yatha--as much as; ahih--a snake; hitva--giving up; misantam--simply looking over; pitaram--his father; sanna-vacam--silently; jagama--went; matuh--to his mother; prarudan--weeping; sakasam--near.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, as a snake, when struck by a stick, breathes very heavily, Dhruva Maharaja, having been struck by the strong words of his stepmother, began to breathe very heavily because of great anger. When he saw that his father was silent and did not protest, he immediately left the palace and went to his mother.

> > *******

> > TEXT 15

> > tam nihsvasantam sphuritadharostham

> > sunitir utsanga uduhya balam

> > niamya tat-paura-niukhan nitantam

> > sa vivyathe yad gaditam sapatnya

> > tam--him; nihsvasantam--heavily breathing; sphurita--trembling; adhara-ostham--upper and lower lips; sunitih--Queen Suniti; utsange--on her lap; uduhya--lifting; balam--her son; niamya--after hearing; tat-paura-mukhat--from the mouths of other inhabitants; nitantam--all descriptions; sa--she; vivyathe--became aggrieved; yat--that which; gaditam--spoken; sa-patnya--by her co-wife.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Dhruva Maharaja reached his mother, his lips were trembling in anger, and he was crying very grievously. Queen Suniti immediately lifted her son onto her lap, while the palace residents who had heard all the harsh words of Suruci related everything in detail. Thus Suniti also became greatly aggrieved.

> > *******

> > TEXT 16

> > sotsrjya dhairyam vilalapa soka-

> > davagnina dava-lateva bala

> > vakyam sapatnyah smarati saroja-

> > sriya drsa baspa-kalam uvaha

> > sa--she; utsrjya--giving up; dhairyam--patience; vilalapa--lamented; soka-dava-agnina--by the fire of grief; dava-lata iva--like burnt leaves; bala--the woman; vakyam--words; sa-patnyah--spoken by her co-wife; smarati--remember; saroja-sriya--a face as beautiful as a lotus; drsa--by looking; baspa-kalam--weeping; uvaha--said.

> > TRANSLATION

> > This incident was unbearable to Suniti's patience. She began to burn as if in a forest fire, and in her grief she became just like a burnt leaf and so lamented. As she remembered the words of her co-wife, her bright, lotuslike face filled with tears, and thus she spoke.

> > *******

> > TEXT 17

> > dirgham svasanti vrjinasya param

> > apasyati balakam aha bala

> > mamangalam tata paresu mamstha

> > bhunkte jano yat para-duhkhadas tat

> > dirgham--heavy; svasanti--breathing; vrjinasya--of the danger; param--limitation; apasyati--without finding; balakam--to her son; aha--said; bala--the lady; ma--let there not be; amangalam--ill fortune; tata--my dear son; paresu--unto others; mamsthah--desire; bhunkte--suffered; janah--person; yat--that which; para-duhkhadah--who is apt to inflict pains upon others; tat--that.

> > TRANSLATION

> > She also was breathing very heavily, and she did not know the factual remedy for the painful situation. Not finding any remedy, she said to her son: My dear son, don't wish for anything inauspicious for others. Anyone who inflicts pains upon others suffers himself from that pain.

> > *******

> > TEXT 18

> > satyam surucyabhihitam bhavan me

> > yad durbhagaya udare grhitah

> > stanyena vrddhas ca vilajjate yam

> > bharyeti va vodhum idaspatir mam

> > satyam--truth; surucya--by Queen Suruci; abhihitam--narrated; bhavan--unto you; me--of me; yat--because; durbhagayah--of the unfortunate; udare--in the womb; grhitah--taken birth; stanyena--fed by the breast milk; vrddhah ca--grown up; vilajjate--becomes ashamed; yam--unto one; bharya--wife; iti--thus; va--or; vodhum--to accept; id ah-patih--the King; mam--me.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Suniti said: My dear boy, whatever has been spoken by Suruci is so, because the King, your father, does not consider me his wife or even his maidservant. He feels ashamed to accept me. Therefore it is a fact that you have taken birth from the womb of an unfortunate woman, and by being fed from her breast you have grown up.

> > *******

> > TEXT 19

> > atistha tat tata vimatsaras tvam

> > uktam samatrapi yad avyalikam

> > aradhayadhoksaja-pada-padmam

> > yadicchase 'dhyasanam uttamo yatha

> > atistha--just execute; tat--that; tata--my dear son; vimatsarah--without being envious; tvam--unto you; uktam--said; samatra api--by your stepmother; yat--whatever; avyalikam--they are all factual; aradhaya--just begin worshiping; adhoksaja--the Transcendence; pada-padmam--lotus feet; yadi--if; icchase--desire; adhyasanam--to be seated along with; uttamah--your stepbrother; yatha--as much as.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear boy, whatever has been spoken by Suruci, your stepmother, although very harsh to hear, is factual. Therefore, if you desire at all to sit on the same throne as your stepbrother, Uttama, then give up your envious attitude and immediately try to execute the instructions of your stepmother. Without further delay, you must engage yourself in worshiping the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > *******

> > TEXT 20

> > yasyanghri-padmam pa ricarya vina-

> > vibhavanayatta-gunabhipatteh

> > ajo 'dhyatis that khalu paramesthyam

> > padam jitatma-svasanabhivandyam

> > yasya--whose; anghri--leg; padmam--lotus feet; paricarya--worshiping; vina--universe; vibhavanaya--for creating; atta--received; guna-abhipatteh--for acquiring the required qualifications; ajah--the unborn (Lord Brahma); adhyatisthat--became situated; khalu--undoubtedly; paramesthyam--the supreme position within the universe; padam--position; jita-atma--one who has conquered his mind; svasana--by controlling the life air; abhivandyam--worshipable.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Suniti continued: The Supreme Personality of Godhead is so great that simply by worshiping His lotus feet, your great-grandfather, Lord Brahma, acquired the necessary qualifications to create this universe. Although he is unborn and is the chief of all living creatures, he is situated in that exalted post because of the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whom even great yogis worship by controlling the mind and regulating the life air [prana].

> > *******

> > TEXT 21

> > tatha manur vo bhagavan pitamaho

> > yam eka-matya puru-daksinair makhaih

> > istvabhipede duravapam anyato

> > bhaumam sukham divyam athapavargyam

> > tatha--similarly; manuh--Svayambhuva Manu; vah--your; bhagavan--worshipable; pitamahah--grandfather; yam--unto whom; eka-matya--with unflinching devotion; puru--great; daksinaih--charity; makhaih--by executing sacrifices; istva--worshiping; abhipede--achieved; duravapam--difficult to achieve; anyatah--by any other means; bhaumam--material; sukham--happiness; divyam--celestial; atha--thereafter; apavargyam--liberation.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Suniti informed her son: Your grandfather Svayambhuva Manu executed great sacrifices with distribution of charity, and thereby, with unflinching faith and devotion, he worshiped and satisfied the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By acting in that way, he achieved the greatest success in material happiness and afterwards achieved liberation, which is impossible to obtain by worshiping the demigods.

> > *******

> > TEXT 22

> > tam eva vatsasraya bhrtya-vatsalam

> > mumuksubhir mrgya-padabja-paddhatim

> > ananya-bhave nija-dharma-bhavite

> > manasy avasthapya bhajasva purusam

> > tam--Him; eva--also; vatsa--my dear boy; asraya--take shelter; bhrtya-vatsalam--of the Supreme personality of Godhead, who is very kind to His devotees; mumuksubhih--also by persons desiring liberation; mrgya--to be sought; pada-abja--lotus feet; paddhatim--system; ananya-bhave--in an unflinching situation; nija-dharma-bhavite--being situated in one's original constitutional position; manasi--unto the mind; avasthapya--placing; bhajasva--go on executing devotional service; purusam--the Supreme Person.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear boy, you also should take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is very kind to His devotees. Persons seeking liberation from the cycle of birth and death always take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord in devotional service. Becoming purified by executing your allotted occupation, just situate the Supreme Personality of Godhead in your heart, and without deviating for a moment, engage always in His service.

> > *******

> > TEXT 23

> > nanyam tatah padma-palasa-locanad

> > duhkha-cchidam te mrgayami kancana

> > yo mrgyate hasta-grhita-padmaya

> > sriyetarair anga vimrgyamanaya

> > na anyam--no others; tatah--therefore; padma-palasa-locanat--from the lotus-eyed Supreme Personality of Godhead; duhkha-chidam--one who can mitigate others' difficulties; te--your; mrgayami--I am searching after; kancana--anyone else; yah--who; mrgyate--searches; hasta-grhita-padmaya--taking a lotus flower in the hand; sriya--the goddess of fortune; itaraih--by others; anga--my dear boy; vimrgyamanaya--one who is worshiped.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Dhruva, as far as I am concerned, I do not find anyone who can mitigate your distress but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose eyes are like lotus petals. Many demigods such as Lord Brahma seek the pleasure of the goddess of fortune, but the goddess of fortune herself, with a lotus flower in her hand, is always ready to render service to the Supreme Lord.

> > *******

> > TEXT 24

> > maitreya uvaca

> > evam sanjalpitam matur

> > akarnyarthagamam vacah

> > sanniyamyatmanatmanam

> > niscakrama pituh purat

> > maitreyah uvaca--the great sage Maitreya said; evam--thus; sanjalpitam--spoken together; matuh--from the mother; akarnya--hearing; artha-agamam--purposeful; vacah--words; sanniyamya--controlling; atmana--by the mind; atmanam--own self; niscakrama--got out; pituh--of the father; purat--from the house.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great sage Maitreya continued: The instruction of Dhruva Maharaja's mother, Suniti, was actually meant for fulfilling his desired objective. Therefore, after deliberate consideration and with intelligence and fixed determination, he left his father's house.

> > *******

> > TEXT 25

> > naradas tad upakarnya

> > jnatva tasya cikirsitam

> > sprstva murdhany agha-ghnena

> > panina praha vismitah

> > naradah--the great sage Narada; tat--that; upakarnya--overhearing; jnatva--and knowing; tasya--his (Dhruva Maharaja's); cikirsitam--activities; sprstva--by touching; murdhani--on the head; agha-ghnena--which can drive away all sinful activities; panina--by the hand; praha--said; vismitah--being surprised.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great sage Narada overheard this news, and understanding all the activities of Dhruva Maharaja, he was struck with wonder. He approached Dhruva, and touching the boy's head with his all-virtuous hand, he spoke as follows.

> > *******

> > TEXT 26

> > aho tejah ksatriyanam

> > mana-bhangam amrsyatam

> > balo 'py ayam hrda dhatte

> > yat samatur asad-vacah

> > aho--how surprising it is; tejah--power; ksatriyanam--of the ksatriyas; mana-bhangam--hurting the prestige; amrsyatam--unable to tolerate; balah--only a child; api--although; ayam--this; hrda--at heart; dhatte--has taken; yat--that which; sa-matuh--of the stepmother; asat--unpalatable; vacah--words.

> > TRANSLATION

> > How wonderful are the powerful ksatriyas. They cannot tolerate even a slight infringement upon their prestige. Just imagine! This boy is only a small child, yet harsh words from his stepmother proved unbearable to him.

> > *******

> > TEXT 27

> > narada uvaca

> > nadhunapy avamanam te

> > sammanam vapi putraka

> > laksayamah kumarasya

> > saktasya kridanadisu

> > naradah uvaca--the great sage Narada said; na--not; adhuna--just now; api--although; avamanam--insult; te--unto you; sammanam--offering respects; va--or; api--certainly; putraka--my dear boy; laksayamah--I can see; kumarasya--of boys like you; saktasya--being attached; kridana-adisu--to sports and frivolities.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great sage Narada told Dhruva: My dear boy, you are only a little boy whose attachment is to sports and other frivolities. Why are you so affected by words insulting your honor?

> > *******

> > TEXT 28

> > vikalpe vidyamane 'pi

> > na hy asantosa-hetavah

> > pumso moham rte bhinna

> > yal loke nija-karmabhih

> > vikalpe--alternation; vidyamane api--although there is; na--not; hi--certainly; asantosa--dissatisfaction; hetavah--causes; pumsah--of the persons; moham rte--without being illusioned; bhinnah--separated; yat loke--within this world; nija-karmabhih--by his own work.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Dhruva, if you feel that your sense of honor has been insulted, you still have no cause for dissatisfaction. This kind of dissatisfaction is another feature of the illusory energy; every living entity is controlled by his previous actions, and therefore there are different varieties of life for enjoying or suffering.

> > *******

> > TEXT 29

> > paritusyet tatas tata

> > tavan-matrena purusah

> > daivopasaditam yavad

> > viksyesvara-gatim budhah

> > paritusyet--one should be satisfied; tatah--therefore; tata--my dear boy; tavat--up to such; matrena--quality; purusah--a person; daiva--destiny; upasaditam--offered by; yavat--as; viksya--seeing; inara-gatim--the process of the Supreme; budhah--one who is intelligent.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The process of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very wonderful. One who is intelligent should accept that process and be satisfied with whatever comes, favorable or unfavorable, by His supreme will.

> > *******

> > TEXT 30

> > atha matropadistena

> > yogenavarurutsasi

> > yat-prasadam sa vai pumsam

> > duraradhyo mato mama

> > atha--therefore; matra--by your mother; upadistena--being instructed; yogena--by mystic meditation; avarurutsasi--want to elevate yourself; yat-prasadam--whose mercy; sah--that; vai--certainly; pumsam--of the living entities; duraradhyah--very difficult to perform; matah--opinion; mama--my.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Now you have decided to undertake the mystic process of meditation under the instruction of your mother, just to achieve the mercy of the Lord, but in my opinion such austerities are not possible for any ordinary man. It is very difficult to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > *******

> > TEXT 31

> > munayah padavim yasya

> > nihsangenoru janmabhih

> > na vidur mrgayanto 'pi

> > tivra-yoga-samadhina

> > munayah--great sages; padavim--path; yasya--whose; nihsangena--by detachment; uru janmabhih--after many births; na--never; viduh--understood; mrgayantah--searching for; api--certainly; tivra-yoga--severe austerities; samadhina--by trance.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Narada Muni continued: After trying this process for many, many births and remaining unattached to material contamination, placing themselves continually in trance and executing many types of austerities, many mystic yogis were unable to find the end of the path of God realization.

> > *******

> > TEXT 32

> > ato nivartatam esa

> > nirbandhas tava nisphalah

> > yatisyati bhavan kale

> > sreyasam samupasthite

> > atah--hereafter; nivartatam--just stop yourself; esah--this; nirbandhah--determination; tava--your; nisphalah--without any result; yatisyati--in the future you should try; bhavan--yourself; kale--in due course of time; sreyasam--opportunities; samupasthite--being present.

> > TRANSLATION

> > For this reason, my dear boy, you should not endeavor for this; it will not be successful. It is better that you go home. When you are grown up, by the mercy of the Lord you will get a chance for these mystic performances. At that time you may execute this function.

> > *******

> > TEXT 33

> > yasya yad daiva-vihitam

> > sa tena sukha-duhkhayoh

> > atmanam tosayan dehi

> > tamasah param rcchati

> > yasya--anyone; yat--that which; daiva--by destiny; vihitam--destined; sah--such a person; tena--by that; sukha-duhkhayoh--happiness or distress; atmanam--one's self; tosayan--being satisfied; dehi--an embodied soul; tamasah--of the darkness; param--to the other side; rcchati--crosses.

> > TRANSLATION

> > One should try to keep himself satisfied in any condition of life--whether distress or happiness--which is offered by the supreme will. A person who endures in this way is able to cross over the darkness of nescience very easily.

> > *******

> > TEXT 34

> > gunadhikan mudam lipsed

> > anukrosam gunadhamat

> > maitrim samanad anvicchen

> > na tapair abhibhuyate

> > guna-adhikat--one who is more qualified; mudam--pleasure; lipset--one should feel; anukrosam--compassion; guna-adhamat--one who is less qualified; maitrim--friendship; samanat--with an equal; anvicchet--one should desire; na--not; tapaih--by tribulation; abhibhuyate--becomes affected.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Every man should act like this: when he meets a person more qualified than himself, he should be very pleased; when he meets someone less qualified than himself, he should be compassionate toward him; and when he meets someone equal to himself, he should make friendship with him. In this way one is never affected by the threefold miseries of this material world.

> > *******

> > TEXT 35

> > dhruva uvaca

> > so 'yam samo bhagavata

> > sukha-duhkha-hatatmanam

> > darsitah krpaya pumsam

> > durdarso 'smad-vidhais tu yah

> > dhruvah uvaca--Dhruva Maharaja said; sah--that; ayam--this; samah--equilibrium of mind; bhagavata--by Your Lordship; sukha-duhkha--happiness and miseries; hata-atmanam--those who are affected; darsitah--shown; krpaya--by mercy; pumsam--of the people; durdarsah--very difficult to perceive; asmat-vidhaih--by persons like us; tu--but; yah--whatever you have said.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Dhruva Maharaja said: My dear Lord Naradaji, for a person whose heart is disturbed by the material conditions of happiness and distress, whatever you have so kindly explained for attainment of peace of mind is certainly a very good instruction. But as far as I am concerned, I am covered by ignorance, and this kind of philosophy does not touch my heart.

> > *******

> > TEXT 36

> > athapi me 'vinitasya

> > ksattram ghoram upeyusah

> > surucya durvaco-banair

> > na bhinne srayate hrdi

> > atha api--therefore; me--my; avinitasya--not very submissive; ksattram--the spirit of a ksatriya; ghoram--intolerant; upeyusah--achieved; surucyah--of Queen Suruci; durvacah--harsh words; banaih--by the arrows; na--not; bhinne--being pierced; srayate--remain in; hrdi--the heart.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear lord, I am very impudent for not accepting your instructions, but this is not my fault. It is due to my having been born in a ksatriya family. My stepmother, Suruci, has pierced my heart with her harsh words. Therefore your valuable instruction does not stand in my heart.

> > *******

> > TEXT 37

> > padam tri-bhuvanotkrstam

> > jigisoh sadhu vartma me

> > bruhy asmat-pitrbhir brahmann

> > anyair apy anadhisthitam

> > padam--position; tri-bhuvana--the three worlds; utkrstam--the best; jigisoh--desirous; sadhu--honest; vartma--way; me--unto me; bruhi--please tell; asmat--our; pitrbhih--by the forefathers, the father and grandfather; brahman--O great brahmana; anyaih--by others; api--even; anadhis thitam--not acquired.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O learned brahmana, I want to occupy a position more exalted than any yet achieved within the three worlds by anyone, even by my fathers and grandfathers. If you will oblige, kindly advise me of an honest path to follow by which I can achieve the goal of my life.

> > *******

> > TEXT 38

> > nunam bhavan bhagavato

> > yo 'ngajah paramesthinah

> > vitudann atate vinam

> > hitaya jagato 'rkavat

> > nunam--certainly; bhavan--Your Honor; bhagavatah--of the Lord; yah--that which; anga jah--born from the body; paramesthinah--Lord Brahma; vitudan--by playing on; atate--travel all over; vinam--a musical instrument; hitaya--for the welfare; jagatah--of the world; arka-vat--like the sun.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear lord, you are a worthy son of Lord Brahma, and you travel, playing on your musical instrument, the vina, for the welfare of the entire universe. You are like the sun, which rotates in the universe for the benefit of all living beings.

> > *******

> > TEXT 39

> > maitreya uvaca

> > ity udahrtam akarnya

> > bhagavan naradas tada

> > pritah pratyaha tam balam

> > sad-vakyam anukampaya

> > maitreyah uvaca--the sage Maitreya continued; iti--thus; udahrtam--being spoken; akarnya--hearing; bhagavan naradah--the great personality Narada; tada--thereupon; pritah--being pleased; pratyaha--replied; tam--him; balam--the boy; sat-vakyam--good advice; anukampaya--being compassionate.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The sage Maitreya continued: The great personality Narada Muni, upon hearing the words of Dhruva Maharaja, became very compassionate toward him, and in order to show him his causeless mercy, he gave him the following expert advice.

> > *******

> > TEXT 40

> > narada uvaca

> > jananyabhihitah panthah

> > sa vai nihsreyasasya te

> > bhagavan vasudevas tam

> > bhaja tam pravanatmana

> > naradah uvaca--the great sage Narada said; jananya--by your mother; abhihitah--stated; panthah--the path; sah--that; vai--certainly; nihsreyasasya--the ultimate goal of life; te--for you; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vasudevah--Krsna; tam--unto Him; bhaja--render your service; tam--by Him; pravana-atmana--fully absorbing your mind.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great sage Narada told Dhruva Maharaja: The instruction given by your mother, Suniti, to follow the path of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is just suitable for you. You should therefore completely absorb yourself in the devotional service of the Lord.

> > *******

> > TEXT 41

> > dharmartha-kama-moksakhyam

> > ya icchec chreya atmanah

> > ekam hy eva hares tatra

> > karanam pada-sevanam

> > dharma-artha-kama-moksa--the four principles religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation; akhyam--by the name; yah--who; icchet--may desire; sreyah--the goal of life; atmanah--of the self; ekam hi eva--only the one; hareh--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tatra--in that; karanam--the cause; pada-sevanam--worshiping the lotus feet.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Any person who desires the fruits of the four principles religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and, at the end, liberation, should engage himself in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for worship of His lotus feet yields the fulfillment of all of these.

> > *******

> > TEXT 42

> > tat tata gaccha bhadram te

> > yamunayas tatam suci

> > punyam madhuvanam yatra

> > sannidhyam nityada hareh

> > tat--that; tata--my dear son; gaccha--go; bhadram--good fortune; te--for you; yamunayah--of the Yamuna; tatam--bank; suci--being purified; punyam--the holy; madhu-vanam--of the name Madhuvana; yatra--where; sannidhyam--being nearer; nityada--always; hareh--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear boy, I therefore wish all good fortune for you. You should go to the bank of the Yamuna, where there is a virtuous forest named Madhuvana, and there be purified. Just by going there, one draws nearer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who always lives there.

> > *******

> > TEXT 43

> > snatvanusavanam tasmin

> > kalindyah salile sive

> > krtvocitani nivasann

> > atmanah kalpitasanah

> > snatva--after taking bath; anusavanam--three times; tasmin--in that; kalindyah--in the River Kalindi (the Yamuna); salile--in the water; sive--which is very auspicious; krtva--performing; ucitani--suitable; nivasan--sitting; atmanah--of the self; kalpita-asanah--having prepared a sitting place.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Narada Muni instructed: My dear boy, in the waters of the Yamuna River, which is known as Kalindi, you should take three baths daily because the water is very auspicious, sacred and clear. After bathing, you should perform the necessary regulative principles for astanga-yoga and then sit down on your asana [sitting place] in a calm and quiet position.

> > *******

> > TEXT 44

> > pranayamena tri-vrta

> > pranendriya-mano-malam

> > sanair vyudasyabhidhyayen

> > manasa guruna gurum

> > pranayamena--by breathing exercises; tri-vrta--by the three recommended ways; prana-indriya--the life air and the senses; manah--mind; malam--impurity; sanaih--gradually; vyudasya--giving up; abhidhyayet--meditate upon; manasa--by the mind; guruna--undisturbed; gurum--the supreme spiritual master, Krsna.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After sitting on your seat, practice the three kinds of breathing exercises, and thus gradually control the life air, the mind and the senses. Completely free yourself from all material contamination, and with great patience begin to meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > *******

> > TEXT 45

> > prasadabhimukham sasvat

> > prasanna-vadaneksanam

> > sunasam subhruvam caru-

> > kapolam sura-sundaram

> > prasada-abhimukham--always prepared to offer causeless mercy; sasvat--always; prasanna--pleasing; vadana--mouth; iksanam--vision; su-nasam--very nicely constructed nose; su-bhruvam--very nicely decorated eyebrows; caru--beautiful; kapolam--forehead; sura--the demigods; sundaram--good looking.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [The form of the Lord is described herein.] The Lord's face is perpetually very beautiful and pleasing in attitude. To the devotees who see Him, He appears never to be displeased, and He is always prepared to award benedictions to them. His eyes, His nicely decorated eyebrows, His raised nose and His broad forehead are all very beautiful. He is more beautiful than all the demigods.

> > *******

> > TEXT 46

> > tarunam ramaniyangam

> > arunostheksanadharam

> > pranatasrayanam nrmnam

> > saranyam karunarnavam

> > tarunam--youthful; ramaniya--attractive; angam--all parts of the body; aruna-ostha--lips pinkish like the rising sun; iksana-adharam--eyes of the same nature; pranata--one who is surrendered; asrayanam--shelter of the surrendered; nrmnam--transcendentally pleasing in all respects; saranyam--the person unto whom it is just worthy to surrender; karuna--merciful like; arnavam--the ocean.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Narada Muni continued: The Lord's form is always youthful. Every limb and every part of His body is properly formed, free from defect. His eyes and lips are pinkish like the rising sun. He is always prepared to give shelter to the surrendered soul, and anyone so fortunate as to look upon Him feels all satisfaction. The Lord is always worthy to be the master of the surrendered soul, for He is the ocean of mercy.

> > *******

> > TEXT 47

> > srivatsankam ghana-syamam

> > purusam vana-malinam

> > sankha-cakra-gada-padmair

> > abhivyakta-caturbhujam

> > srivatsa-ankam--the mark of Srivatsa on the chest of the Lord; ghana-syamam--deeply bluish; purusam--the Supreme Person; vana-malinam--with a garland of flowers; sankha--conchshell; cakra--wheel; gada--club; padmaih--lotus flower; abhivyakta--manifested; catuh-bhujam--four handed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Lord is further described as having the mark of Srivatsa, or the sitting place of the goddess of fortune, and His bodily hue is deep bluish. The Lord is a person, He wears a garland of flowers, and He is eternally manifest with four hands, which hold [beginning from the lower left hand] a conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower.

> > *******

> > TEXT 48

> > kiritinam kundalinam

> > keyura-valayanvitam

> > kaustu bhabha rana-grivam

> > pita-kauseya-vasasam

> > kiritinam--the Lord is decorated with a jeweled helmet; kundalinam--with pearl earrings; keyura--jeweled necklace; valaya-anvitam--with jeweled bracelets; kaustubha-abharana-grivam--His neck is decorated by the Kaustubha jewel; pita-kauseya-vasasam--and He is dressed with yellow silk garments.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The entire body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, is decorated. He wears a valuable jeweled helmet, necklaces and bracelets, His neck is adorned with the Kaustubha jewel, and He is dressed in yellow silk garments.

> > *******

> > TEXT 49

> > kanci-kalapa-paryastam

> > lasat-kancana-nup uram

> > darsaniyatamam santam

> > mano-nayana-vardhanam

> > kanci-kalapa--small bells; paryastam--surrounding the waist; lasat-kancana-nupuram--His legs are decorated with golden ankle bells; darsaniya-tamam--the superexcellent feature; santam--peaceful, calm and quiet; manah-nayana-vardhanam--very pleasing to the eyes and the mind.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Lord is decorated with small golden bells around His waist, and His lotus feet are decorated with golden ankle bells. All His bodily features are very attractive and pleasing to the eyes. He is always peaceful, calm and quiet and very pleasing to the eyes and the mind.

> > *******

> > TEXT 50

> > padbhyam nakha-mani-srenya

> > vilasadbhyam samarcatam

> > hrt-padma-karnika-dhisnyam

> > akramyatmany avasthitam

> > padbhyam--by His lotus feet; nakha-mani-srenya--by the light of the jewellike nails on the toes; vikisadbhyam--glittering lotus feet; samarcatam--persons who are engaged in worshiping them; hrt-padma-karnika--the whorl of the lotus flower of the heart; dhisnyam--situated; akramya--seizing; atmani--in the heart; avasthitam--situated.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Real yogis meditate upon the transcendental form of the Lord as He stands on the whorl of the lotus of their hearts, the jewellike nails of His lotus feet glittering.

> > *******

> > TEXT 51

> > smayamanam abhidhyayet

> > san u ragavalokanam

> > niyatenaika-bhutena

> > manasa varadarsabham

> > smayamanam--the Lord's smiling; abhidhyayet--one should meditate upon Him; sa-anuraga-avalokanam--one who is looking toward the devotees with great affection; niyatena--in this way, regularly; eka-bhutena--with great attention; manasa--with the mind; vara-darsabham--one should meditate upon the greatest bestower of benedictions.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Lord is always smiling, and the devotee should constantly see the Lord in this form, as He looks very mercifully toward the devotee. In this way the meditator should look toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the bestower of all benedictions.

> > *******

> > TEXT 52

> > evam bhagavato rupam

> > subhadram dhyayato manah

> > nirvrtya paraya turnam

> > sampannam na nivartate

> > evam--thus; bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; rupam--form; su-bhadram--very auspicious; dhyayatah--meditating; manah--the mind; nirvrtya--being freed from all material contamination; paraya--transcendental; turnam--very soon; sampannam--being enriched; na--never; nivartate--come down.

> > TRANSLATION

> > One who meditates in this way, concentrating his mind upon the always auspicious form of the Lord, is very soon freed from all material contamination, and he does not come down from meditation upon the Lord.

> > *******

> > TEXT 53

> > japas ca paramo guhyah

> > sruyatam me nrpatmaja

> > yam sapta-ratram prapathan

> > puman pasyati khecaran

> > japah ca--the chanting mantra in this connection; paramah--very, very; guhyah--confidential; sruyatam--please hear; me--from me; nrpa-atmaja--O son of the King; yam--which; sapta-ratram--seven nights; prapathan--chanting; puman--a person; pasyati--can see; khe-caran--human beings who travel in space.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O son of the King, now I shall speak unto you the mantra which is to be chanted with this process of meditation. One who carefully chants this mantra for seven nights can see the perfect human beings flying in the sky.

> > *******

> > TEXT 54

> > om namo bhagavate vasudevaya

> > mantrenanena devasya

> > kuryad dravyamayim budhah

> > saparyam vividhair dravyair

> > desa-kala-vibhagavit

> > om--O my Lord; namah--I offer my respectful obeisances; bhagavate--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vasudevaya--unto the Supreme Lord, Vasudeva; mantrena--by this hymn, or mantra; anena--this; devasya--of the Lord; kuryat--one should do; dravyamayim--physical; budhah--one who is learned; saparyam--worship by the prescribed method; vividhaih--with varieties; dravyaih--paraphernalia; desa--according to country; kala--time; vibhaga-vit--one who knows the divisions.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. This is the twelve-syllable mantra for worshiping Lord Krsna. One should install the physical forms of the Lord, and with the chanting of the mantra one should offer flowers and fruits and other varieties of foodstuffs exactly according to the rules and regulations prescribed by authorities. But this should be done in consideration of place, time, and attendant conveniences and inconveniences.

> > *******

> > TEXT 55

> > salilaih sucibhir malyair

> > vanyair mula-phaladibhih

> > sastankuramsukaih carcet

> > tulasya priyaya prabhum

> > salilaih--by use of water; sucibhih--being purified; malyaih--by garlands; vanyaih--of forest flowers; mula--roots; phala-adibhih--by different kinds of vegetables and fruits; sasta--the newly grown grass; ankura--buds; amsukaih--by the skin of trees, such as the bhurja; ca--and; arcet--should worship; tulasya--by the tulasi leaves; priyaya--which are very dear to the Lord; prabhum--the Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > One should worship the Lord by offering pure water, pure flower garlands, fruits, flowers and vegetables, which are available in the forest, or by collecting newly grown grasses, small buds of flowers or even the skins of trees, and if possible, by offering tulasi leaves, which are very dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > *******

> > TEXT 56

> > labdhva dravyamayim arcam

> > ksity-ambv-adisu varcayet

> > abhrtatma munih santo

> > yata-van mita-vanya-bhuk

> > labdhva--by getting; dravya-mayim--made of physical elements; arcam--worshipable Deity; ksiti--earth; ambu--water; adisu--beginning with; va--or; arcayet--worship; abhrta-atma--one who is fully self-controlled; munih--a great personality; santah--peacefully; yata-vak--controlling the force of talking; mita--frugal; vanya-bhuk--eating whatever is available in the forest.

> > TRANSLATION

> > It is possible to worship a form of the Lord made of physical elements such as earth, water, pulp, wood and metal. In the forest one can make a form with no more than earth and water and worship Him according to the above principles. A devotee who has full control over his self should be very sober and peaceful and must be satisfied simply with eating whatever fruits and vegetables are available in the forest.

> > *******

> > TEXT 57

> > svecchavatara-caritair

> > acintya-nija-mayaya

> > karisyaty uttamaslokas

> > tad dhyayed dhrdayan-gamam

> > sva-iccha--by His own supreme will; avatara--incarnation; caritaih--activities; acintya--inconceivable; nija-mayaya--by His own potency; karisyati--performs; uttama-slokah--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tat--that; dhyayet--one should meditate; hrdayam-gamam--very attractive.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Dhruva, besides worshiping the Deity and chanting the mantra three times a day, you should meditate upon the transcendental activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His different incarnations, as exhibited by His supreme will and personal potencies.

> > *******

> > TEXT 58

> > paricarya bhagavato

> > yavatyah purva-sevitah

> > ta mantra-hrdayenaiva

> > prayunjyan mantra-murtaye

> > paricaryah--service; bhagavatah--of the Personality of Godhead; yavatyah--as they are prescribed (as above mentioned); purva-sevitah--recommended or done by previous acaryas; tah--that; mantra--hymns; hrdayena--within the heart; eva--certainly; prayunjyat--one should worship; mantra-murtaye--who is nondifferent from the mantra.

> > TRANSLATION

> > One should follow in the footsteps of previous devotees regarding how to worship the Supreme Lord with the prescribed paraphernalia, or one should offer worship within the heart by reciting the mantra to the Personality of Godhead, who is nondifferent from the mantra.

> > *******

> > TEXT 59-60

> > evam kayena manasa

> > vacasa ca mano-gatam

> > paricaryamano bhagavan

> > bhaktimat-paricaryaya

> > pumsam amayinam samyag

> > bhajatam bhava-vardhanah

> > sreyo diaty abhimatam

> > yad dharmadisu dehinam

> > evam--thus; kayena--by the body; manasa--by the mind; vacasa--by the words; ca--also; manah-gatam--simply by thinking of the Lord; paricaryamanah--engaged in the devotional service; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhakti-mat--according to the regulative principles of devotional service; paricaryaya--by worshiping the Lord;

> > pumsam--of the devotee; amayinam--who is sincere and serious; samyak--perfectly; bhajatam--engaged in devotional service; bhava-vardhanah--the Lord, who increases the ecstasy of the devotee; sreyah--ultimate goal; diati--bestows; abhimatam--desire; yat--as they are; dharma-adisu--regarding spiritual life and economic development; dehinam--of the conditioned souls.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Anyone who thus engages in the devotional service of the Lord, seriously and sincerely, with his mind, words and body, and who is fixed in the activities of the prescribed devotional methods, is blessed by the Lord according to his desire. If a devotee desires material religiosity, economic development, sense gratification or liberation from the material world, he is awarded these results.

> > *******

> > TEXT 61

> > viraktas cendriya-ratau

> > bhakti-yogena bhuyasa

> > tam nirantara-bhavena

> > bhajetaddha vimuktaye

> > viraktah ca--completely renounced order of life; indriya-ratau--in the matter of sense gratification; bhakti-yogena--by the process of devotional service; bhuyasa--with great seriousness; tam--unto Him (the Supreme); nirantara--constantly, twenty-four hours daily; bhavena--in the topmost stage of ecstasy; bhajeta--must worship; addha--directly; vimuktaye--for liberation.

> > TRANSLATION

> > If one is very serious about liberation, he must stick to the process of transcendental loving service, engaging twenty-four hours a day in the highest stage of ecstasy, and he must certainly be aloof from all activities of sense gratification.

> > *******

> > TEXT 62

> > ity uktas tam parikramya

> > pranamya ca nrparbhakah

> > yayau madhuvanam punyam

> > hares carana-carcitam

> > iti--thus; uktah--being spoken; tam--him (Narada Muni); parikramya--by circumambulating; pranamya--by offering obeisances; ca--also; nrpa-arbhakah--the boy of the King; yayau--went to; madhuvanam--a forest in Vrndavana known as Madhuvana; punyam--which is auspicious and pious; hareh--of the Lord; carana-carcitam--imprinted by the lotus feet of Lord Krsna.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Dhruva Maharaja, the son of the King, was thus advised by the great sage Narada, he circumambulated Narada, his spiritual master, and offered him respectful obeisances. Then he started for Madhuvana, which is always imprinted with the lotus footprints of Lord Krsna and which is therefore especially auspicious.

> > *******

> > TEXT 63

> > tapo-vanam gate tasmin

> > pravisto 'ntah-puram munih

> > arhitarhanako rajna

> > sukhasina uvaca tam

> > tapah-vanam--the forest path where Dhruva Maharaja executed his austerity; gate--having thus approached; tasmin--there; pravistah--having entered; antah-puram--within the private house; munih--the great sage Narada; arhita--being worshiped; arhanakah--by respectful behavior; rajna--by the King; sukha-asinah--when he comfortably sat on his seat; uvaca--said; tam--unto him (the King).

> > TRANSLATION

> > After Dhruva entered Madhuvana Forest to execute devotional service, the great sage Narada thought it wise to go to the King to see how he was faring within the palace. When Narada Muni approached, the King received him properly, offering him due obeisances. After being seated comfortably, Narada began to speak.

> > *******

> > TEXT 64

> > narada uvaca

> > rajan kim dhyayase dirgham

> > mukhena pariusyata

> > kim va na risyate kamo

> > dharmo varthena samyutah

> > naradah uvaca--the great sage Narada Muni said; rajan--my dear King; kim--what; dhyayase--thinking of; dirgham--very deeply; mukhena--with your face; pariusyata--as if drying up; kim va--whether; na--not; risyate--been lost; kamah--sense gratification; dharmah--religious rituals; va--or; arthena--with economic development; samyutah--along with.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great sage Narada inquired: My dear King, your face appears to be withering up, and you look like you have been thinking of something for a very long time. Why is that? Have you been hampered in following your path of religious rites, economic development and sense gratification?

> > *******

> > TEXT 65

> > rajovaca

> > suto me balako brahman

> > strainenakarunatmana

> > nirvasitah panca-varsah

> > saha matra mahan kavih

> > raja uvaca--the King replied; sutah--son; me--my; balakah--tender boy; brahman--my dear brahmana; strainena--one who is too addicted to his wife; akaruna-atmana--one who is very hard of heart and without mercy; nirvasitah--is banished; panca-varsah--although the boy is five years old; saha--with; matra--mother; mahan--great personality; kavih--devotee.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The King replied: O best of the brahmanas, I am very much addicted to my wife, and I am so fallen that I have abandoned all merciful behavior, even to my son, who is only five years old. I have banished him and his mother, even though he is a great soul and a great devotee.

> > *******

> > TEXT 66

> > apy anatham vane brahman

> > ma smadanty arbhakam vrkah

> > srantam sayanam ksudhitam

> > pa rimlana-mukham bujam

> > api--certainly; anatham--without being protected by anyone; vane--in the forest; brahman--my dear brahmana; ma--whether or not; sma--did not; adanti--devour; arbhakam--the helpless boy; vrkah--wolves; srantam--being fatigued; sayanam--lying down; ksudhitam--being hungry; parimlana--emaciated; mukha-ambujam--his face, which is just like a lotus flower.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear brahmana, the face of my son was just like a lotus flower. I am thinking of his precarious condition. He is unprotected, and he might he very hungry. He might have lain down somewhere in the forest, and the wolves might have attacked him to eat his body.

> > *******

> > TEXT 67

> > aho me bata dauratmyam

> > stri jitasyopadharaya

> > yo 'nkam premnaruruksantam

> > nabhyanandam asattamah

> > aho--alas; me--my; bata--certainly; dauratmyam--cruelty; stri-jitasya--conquered by a woman; upadharaya--just think of me in this regard; yah--who; ankam--lap; premna--out of love; aruruksantam--trying to rise onto it; na--not; abhyanandam--received properly; asat-tamah--the most cruel.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Alas, just see how I was conquered by my wife! Just imagine my cruelty! Out of love and affection the boy was trying to get up on my lap, but I did not receive him, nor did I even pat him for a moment. Just imagine how hardhearted I am.

> > *******

> > TEXT 68

> > narada uvaca

> > ma ma sucah sva-tanayam

> > deva-guptam visampate

> > tat-prabhavam avijnaya

> > pravrnkte yad-yaso jagat

> > naradah uvaca--the great sage Narada said; ma--do not; ma--do not; sucah--be aggrieved; sva-tanayam--of your own son; deva-guptam--he is well protected by the Lord; visam-pate--O master of human society; tat--his; prabhavam--influence; avijnaya--without knowing; pravrnkte--widespread; yat--whose; yasah--reputation; jagat--all over the world.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great sage Narada replied: My dear King, please do not he aggrieved about your son. He is well protected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although you have no actual information of his influence, his reputation is already spread all over the world.

> > *******

> > TEXT 69

> > suduskaram karma krtva

> > loka-palair api prabhuh

> > aisyaty acirato rajan

> > yaso vipulayams tava

> > su-duskaram--impossible to perform; karma--work; krtva--after performing; loka-palaih--by great personalities; api--even; prabhuh--quite competent; aisyati--will come back; aciratah--without delay; rajan--my dear King; yasah--reputation; vipulayan--causing to become great; tava--your.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear King, your son is very competent. He will perform activities which would he impossible even for great kings and sages. Very soon he will complete his task and come back home. You should know that he will also spread your reputation all over the world.

> > *******

> > TEXT 70

> > maitreya uvaca

> > iti devarsina proktam

> > virutya jagati-patih

> > raja-laksmim anadrtya

> > putram evanvacintayat

> > maitreyah uvaca--the great sage Maitreya said; iti--thus; devarsina--by the great sage Narada; proktam--spoken; virutya--hearing; jagati-patih--the King; raja-laksmim--the opulence of his big kingdom; anadrtya--without taking care of; putram--his son; eva--certainly; anvacintayat--began to think of him.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great Maitreya continued: The King, Uttanapada, after being advised by Narada Muni, practically gave up all duties in relation with his kingdom, which was very vast and wide, opulent like the goddess of fortune, and he simply began to think of his son Dhruva.

> > *******

> > TEXT 71

> > tatrabhisiktah prayatas

> > tam uposya vibhavarim

> > samahitah paryacarad

> > rsy-adesena purusam

> > tatra--thereupon; abhisiktah--after taking a bath; prayatah--with great attention; tam--that; uposya--fasting; vibhavarim--night; sama--hitah--perfect attention; paryacarat--worshiped; rsi--by the great sage Narada; adesena--as advised; purusam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Elsewhere, Dhruva Maharaja, having arrived at Madhuvana, took his bath in the River Yamuna and observed fasting in the night with great care and attention. After that, as advised by the great sage Narada, he engaged himself in worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > *******

> > TEXT 72

> > tri-ratrante tri-ratrante

> > kapittha-badarasanah

> > atma-vrtty-anusarena

> > masam ninye 'rcayan harim

> > tri--three; ratra-ante--at the end of night; tri--three; ratra-ante--at the end of night; kapittha-badara--fruits and berries; asanah--eating; atma-vrtti--just to preserve the body; anusarena--as it was necessary, minimum; masam--one month; ninye--passed away; arcayan--worshiping; harim--the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > For the first month Dhruva Maharaja ate only fruits and berries on every third day, only to keep his body and soul together, and in this way he progressed in his worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > *******

> > TEXT 73

> > dvitiyam ca tatha masam

> > sasthe sasthe 'rbhako dine

> > trna-parnadibhih sirnaih

> > krtanno 'bhyarcayan vibhum

> > dvitiyam--the next month; ca--also; tatha--as mentioned above; masam--month; sasthe sasthe--every sixth day; arbhakah--the innocent boy; dine--on days; trna-parna-adibhih--by grasses and leaves; sirnaih--which were dry; krta-annah--made for his food; abhyarcayan--and thus continued his method of worship; vibhum--for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In the second month Dhruva Maharaja ate only every six days, and for his eatables he took dry grass and leaves. Thus he continued his worship.

> > *******

> > TEXT 74

> > trtiyam canayan masam

> > navame navame 'hani

> > ab-bhaksa uttamaslokam

> > upadhavat samadhina

> > trtiyam--the third month; ca--also; anayan--passing; masam--one month; navame navame--on each ninth; ahani--on the day; ap-bhaksah--drinking water only; uttama-slokam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is worshiped by selected verses; upadhavat--worshiped; samadhina--in trance.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In the third month he drank water only every nine days. Thus he remained completely in trance and worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is adored by selected verses.

> > *******

> > TEXT 75

> > caturtham api vai masam

> > dvadase dvadase 'hani

> > vayu-bhakso jita-svaso

> > dhyayan devam adharayat

> > caturtham--fourth; api--also; vai--in that way; masam--the month; dvadase dvadase--on the twelfth; ahani--day; vayu--air; bhaksah--eating; jita-svasah--controlling the breathing process; dhyayan--meditating; devam--the Supreme Lord; adharayat--worshiped.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In the fourth month Dhruva Maharaja became a complete master of the breathing exercise, and thus he inhaled air only every twelfth day. In this way he became completely fixed in his position and worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > *******

> > TEXT 76

> > pancame masy anuprapte

> > jita-svaso nrpatmajah

> > dhyayan brahma padaikena

> > tasthau sthanur ivacalah

> > pancame--in the fifth; masi--in the month; anuprapte--being situated; jita-svasah--and still controlling the breathing; nrpa-atmajah--the son of the King; dhyayan--meditating; brahma--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pada ekena--with one leg; tasthau--stood; sthanuh--just like a column; iva--like; acalah--without movement.

> > TRANSLATION

> > By the fifth month, Maharaja Dhruva, the son of the King, had controlled his breathing so perfectly that he was able to stand on only one leg, just as a column stands, without motion, and concentrate his mind fully on the Parabrahman.

> > *******

> > TEXT 77

> > sarvato mana akrsya

> > hrdi bhutendriyasayam

> > dhyayan bhagavato rupam

> > nadraksit kincanapa ram

> > sarvatah--in all respects; manah--mind; akrsya--concentrating; hrdi--in the heart; bhuta-indriya-asayam--resting place of the senses and the objects of the senses; dhyayan--meditating; bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; rupam--form; na adraksit--did not see; kincana--anything; aparam--else.

> > TRANSLATION

> > He completely controlled his senses and their objects, and in this way he fixed his mind, without diversion to anything else, upon the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > *******

> > TEXT 78

> > adharam mahad-adinam

> > pradhana-purusesva ram

> > brahma dharayamanasya

> > trayo lokas cakampire

> > adharam--repose; mahat-adinam--of the material sum total known as the mahat-tattva; pradhana--the chief; purusa-inaram--master of all living entities; brahma--the Supreme Brahman, the Personality of Godhead; dharayamanasya--having taken into the heart; trayah--the three planetary systems; lokah--all the planets; cakampire--began to tremble.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Dhruva Maharaja thus captured the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the refuge of the total material creation and who is the master of all living entities, the three worlds began to tremble.

> > *******

> > TEXT 79

> > yadaika-padena sa parthivarbhakas

> > tasthau tad-angustha-nipidita mahi

> > nanama tatrardham ibhendra-dhisthita

> > tariva savyetaratah pade pade

> > yada--when; eka--with one; padena--leg; sah--Dhruva Maharaja; parthiva--the King's; arbhakah--child; tasthau--remained standing; tat-angustha--his big toe; nipidita--being pressed; mahi--the earth; nanama--bent down; tatra--then; ardham--half; ibha-indra--the king of elephants; dhisthita--being situated; tari iva--like a boat; savya-itaratah--right and left; pade pade--in every step.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As Dhruva Maharaja, the King's son, kept himself steadily standing on one leg, the pressure of his big toe pushed down half the earth, just as an elephant being carried on a boat rocks the boat left and right with his every step.

> > *******

> > TEXT 80

> > tasminn abhidhyayati vinam atmano

> > dvaram nirudhyasum ananyaya dhiya

> > loka nirucchvasa-nipidita bhrsam

> > sa-loka-palah saranam yayur harim

> > tasmin--Dhruva Maharaja; abhidhyayati--when meditating with full concentration; vinam atmanah--the total body of the universe; dvaram--the holes; nirudhya--closed; asum--the life air; ananyaya--without being diverted; dhiya--meditation; lokah--all the planets; nirucchvasa--having stopped breathing; nipiditah--thus being suffocated; bhrsam--very soon; sa-loka-palah--all the great demigods from different planets; saranam--shelter; yayuh--took; harim--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Dhruva Maharaja became practically one in heaviness with Lord Visnu, the total consciousness, due to his fully concentrating, and closing all the holes of his body, the total universal breathing became choked up, and all the great demigods in all the planetary systems felt suffocated and thus took shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > *******

> > TEXT 81

> > deva ucuh

> > naivam vidamo bhagavan prana-rodham

> > caracarasyakhila-sattva-dhamnah

> > vidhehi tan no vrjinad vimoksam

> > prapta vayam tvam saranam saranyam

> > devah ucuh--all the demigods said; na--not; evam--thus; vida--mah--we can understand; bhagavan--O Personality of Godhead; prana-rodham--how we feel our breathing choked; cara--moving; acarasya--not moving; akhila--universal; sattva--existence; dhamnah--the reservoir of; vidhehi--kindly do the needful; tat--therefore; nah--our; vrjinat--from the danger; vimoksam--liberation; praptah--approaching; vayam--all of us; tvam--unto You; saranam--shelter; saranyam--worthy to be taken shelter of.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The demigods said: Dear Lord, You are the refuge of all moving and nonmoving living entities. We feel all living entities to be suffocating, their breathing processes choked up. We have never experienced such a thing. Since You are the ultimate shelter of all surrendered souls, we have therefore approached You; kindly save us from this danger.

> > *******

> > TEXT 82

> > sri-bhagavan uvaca

> > ma bhaista balam tapaso duratyayan

> > nivartayisye pratiyata sva-dhama

> > yato hi vah prana-nirodha asid

> > auttanapadir mayi sangatatma

> > sri-bhagavan uvaca--the Supreme Personality of Godhead replied; ma bhaista--do not be afraid; balam--the boy Dhruva; tapasah--by his severe austerity; duratyayat--strongly determined; nivartayisye--I shall ask him to stop this; pratiyata--you can return; sva-dhama--your own respective homes; yatah--from whom; hi--certainly; vah--your; prana-nirodhah--choking the life air; asit--happened; auttanapadih--on account of the son of King Uttanapada; mayi--unto Me; sangata-atma--fully absorbed in thought of Me.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Personality of Godhead replied: My dear demigods, do not be perturbed by this. It is due to the severe austerity and full determination of the son of King Uttanapada, who is now fully absorbed in thought of Me. He has obstructed the universal breathing process. You can safely return to your respective homes. I shall stop this boy in his severe acts of austerities, and you will be saved from this situation.

> > Back to the running text