Dhruva, a devotee of Lord Vishnu was blessed to attain the position of the polar star, also known as Dhruva in Sanskrit. His tale is recorded in the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata Purana.
Part 1 of 6
Long long ago there was a king called Uttanapada. He had two wives
Suniti and Suruchi. Suniti had a son called Dhruva while Suruchi's son
was called Uttama.
Suruchi was the younger wife full of charms and very very lovely. The king was therefore very much enamored of her and always lived in her palace. He never visited Suniti's palace even once.
Dhruva and Uttama were equal in age, both five years old. So there was keen competition between them in all things. Though his father neglected him, Dhruva rushed to meet and be with his father in the palace of Suruchi. Suruchi did not like is coming to her palace. For the fear of offending her, though he liked Dhruva, Uttanapada could not exhibit his love.
One day, when Dhruva reached the palace, Uttama was sitting on his father's lap saying something and mischievously laughing. Uttanapada was holding him tightly to his heart and saying endearing words. Dhruva rushed forward opening his arms wide to embrace his father and get on to his lap. But Suruchi was on the watch. She pulled Dhruva by the shoulder and asked, 'Where are you going, you chit?"
Dhruva tried to wriggle himself out of her hold but he could not. Flushed red in the face he replied, "I want to sit on father's lap."
Suruchi could not control her anger any longer. Raising her voice she shouted, 'Father's lap indeed! Who are you to sit on father's lap? Had you been so fortunate you would have been born to me like Uttama. Why were you born to your mother? Go.... go away from here and pray to God that you may be born to me at least in the next life."
Stuck to the quick Dhruva looked at his father with tearful eyes. He hoped that his father would say something and console him. But no, Uttanapada didn't even glance at him. Poor Dhruva realized that his father had no love for him.
(to be continued...)
Suruchi was the younger wife full of charms and very very lovely. The king was therefore very much enamored of her and always lived in her palace. He never visited Suniti's palace even once.
Dhruva and Uttama were equal in age, both five years old. So there was keen competition between them in all things. Though his father neglected him, Dhruva rushed to meet and be with his father in the palace of Suruchi. Suruchi did not like is coming to her palace. For the fear of offending her, though he liked Dhruva, Uttanapada could not exhibit his love.
One day, when Dhruva reached the palace, Uttama was sitting on his father's lap saying something and mischievously laughing. Uttanapada was holding him tightly to his heart and saying endearing words. Dhruva rushed forward opening his arms wide to embrace his father and get on to his lap. But Suruchi was on the watch. She pulled Dhruva by the shoulder and asked, 'Where are you going, you chit?"
Dhruva tried to wriggle himself out of her hold but he could not. Flushed red in the face he replied, "I want to sit on father's lap."
Suruchi could not control her anger any longer. Raising her voice she shouted, 'Father's lap indeed! Who are you to sit on father's lap? Had you been so fortunate you would have been born to me like Uttama. Why were you born to your mother? Go.... go away from here and pray to God that you may be born to me at least in the next life."
Stuck to the quick Dhruva looked at his father with tearful eyes. He hoped that his father would say something and console him. But no, Uttanapada didn't even glance at him. Poor Dhruva realized that his father had no love for him.
(to be continued...)
No comments:
Post a Comment
I would love to hear from you! I read each and every comment, and will get back ASAP.