The Penance of Dhruv
Descended from Manu and Uttanapada, Dhruv realizes Vishnu
Slighted by his stepmother, Dhruv undertakes severe penance and is blessed by Vishnu to occupy the position of the Pole Star.
Swayambhav Manu had two sons, Uttanapada and Priyavrata. They ruled separately and left their own dynasties behind them.
Uttanapada was married to Suniti, “the one of good conduct”. They were unhappy because they did not have an heir. Since the continuance of the line was imperative, Uttanapada took a second wife, Suruchi “the delightful one”. However Suniti was the first to conceive and gave birth to a son who was named Dhruv. Suruchi later gave birth to a son, Uttam. Suruchi was not pleased at this turn of events because she wanted her son to become the crown prince. Consequently, Suniti was forced to live outside the royal palace, while Suruchi and her son Uttam enjoyed all the luxuries in the palace.
Once Uttam was sitting on the king's lap when Dhruv arrived there and wanted to sit on his father's lap. Suruchi ridiculed Dhruv, saying, "Though you are also a son of the king, you have no right to sit on the throne because you are not born to me. If you wish to have the throne, you must worship Vishnu and take birth through me." Hurt by his stepmother's harsh words and his father’s silence, Dhruv vowed to achieve a place significantly higher than his father's lap. When Suniti heard about the incident, she felt very sorry. Still, she consoled her son Dhruv. "My son, don't wish ill for the others. Those who cause sorrow for others, have to face the outcome themselves one day. Your stepmother is right. If you wish to sit on your father’s lap, then start worshipping Vishnu."
Dhruv set out with firm determination to please Vishnu. On the way he met sage Narada. Narada tried to convince Dhruv to return but he failed to shake the resolve of the five-year-old boy. Then Narada taught him a mantra and also gave the complete description of Vishnu and explained exactly how Dhruv should perform the meditation.
Dhruv arrived in Madhuban and sat under a Kadamba tree on the bank of the river Yamuna. There he began to recite the mantra. During the first month he ate roots and tubers. In the second month he ate dried leaves. During the third month he managed with Yamuna's water. During the fourth month he sustained himself only on the air. Then Dhruv even stopped breathing. Now, standing on one leg only, he was fully concentrating on Vishnu. At the moment when Dhruv stopped breathing all the three worlds shook with fear. All the demi-Gods ran to Vishnu wailing that the balance of the universe was being disturbed. Vishnu arrived in Madhuban to see His beloved devotee Dhruv. Seeing the Lord Himself appeared before him, Dhruv's eyes filled with tears and he bowed down to Vishnu. Pleased by his prayer Vishnu said, "Your desire shall be fulfilled. After enjoying your kingdom, you shall come to my abode as the pole star, whose position in the sky remains constant, symbolizing unwavering devotion."
Then Dhruv returned to his father's palace. There he was given a grand welcome by everyone, including Suruchi. His father satisfied that Dhruv was in every way capable of running the kingdom crowned Dhruv king and left for the forest in the tradition of Vanaprastha ashram.
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