Vishnu

 

Essence Of
Vishnu Purana

 

5    ‘Dhruvopaakhyana’

Of the two sons of Swayambhuva Manu viz. Priyamvrata and Uttanapaada, special reference was always made in the annals of Hindu Dharma about Dhruva the immortal. Uttanapada  had two wives viz. Suneeti whose son was Dhruva and the younger wife was Suruchi who dominated the King and her son was Uttama. As Dhruva desired to sit on the lap of the King since his cousin too sat, Suruchi insulted Dhruva and indirectly talked ill of Suneeti too and the King remained passive even as a hurt Dhruva walked off to his mother who expressed her helplessness and said only Bhagavan Narayana could help. The disgusted boy of four-five years entered a nearby forest where Sapta Rishis Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha,, Kratu and Vasishtha met him and asked for the reason of his sorrow and Dhruva replied innocently that he desired to sit on the lap of his father as his cousin brother did and nothing else!  Maharshi Maricha told him convincinly that his wish could be fulfilled only by Achyuta Araadhana; Atri  advised him to dedicate himself to Bhagavan Narayanaand confirmed

Parah Paraanam Purusho Yasya Tushto Janardanah,

Sa Praaprotyakshayam sthaanametassatyam Mayoditam

(The Truth is that the Parama Shakti of Paraa Prakruti is indeed inferior to the Supreme Parama Pursha Janardana and he alone could create miracles to place Dhruva on unimaginably higher plane than the least significant Dhruva’s father’s lap!) Pulastya Maharshi said:

Param Brahmaa Param Dhaama yosou Brahmaa tathaa Param,

Tamaaraadhya Hari yaati Muktimapyati durlabham

(Those human beings who perform ‘Araadhana’/ worship to Parabrahma Paramdhaama and Paraswarupa Hari could very easily achieve Moksha Pada [ let alone his father’s lap!]. Angira Maharshi, Pulaha, Kratu and Vasishtha too expressed similar sentiments. Dhruva replied to the Maharshi Ganaas to teach him as to how to worship Narayana and they all affirmed in one voice:

Hiranya garbha Purusha Pradhaana avyaktaavyakta Swarupa Rupiney,

Om Namo Vaasudevaaya Shuddha Jnaana Swarupiney/

Yaitajjapaaya Bhagavan Japyam  Swaaambhuvo Manuh,

Pitaamahastava puraa tasya tushto Janaardanah/

Dadou yathaabhilaashitaam siddhim Trailokya Durlabhaam,

Tathaa twamapi Govindam toshayaitastadaa Japan/

Following the ‘Upadesha’ of Maharshis as above, Dhruva entered a Forest named Madhu on the banks of River Yamuna;subsequently it got the epithet of Madhubanaas  was occupied by Daitya Madhu later and his son Lavanasura was killed by Shatrughna of Ramayana as the Place was changed as Mathura eversince. As young Dhruva performed Dhyana and Puja of Narayana with enormous concentration and dedication for long long time, Prithvi got affected so much that a single-legged Dhruva did Tapsya leaning to the left, Bhumi too leaned left-ward and vice versa and in the process, Rivers, Samudras and Parvatas too got distrurbedand Indra utilised all kinds of gimmicks to advise, frighten and subdue the Child but to no avail. Finally Devas went in a delegation to Janardana and the latter assured that Dhruva had no ambitions to get into the positions of Indra, Surya, Varuna or Kubera and none of them neeeded to be afraid on that count; Bhagavan further promised to do the needful. He appeared before Dhruva and asked him to terminate the Tapasya; Dhruva no doubt prostrated  before Janardanana but desired that the former should assume that kind of Form by which even Brahma and Maha Yogis would not have visualised and that he also should be blessed to possess that kind of Buddhi with which to make appropriate Stuti to Bhagavan. As Parama Deva appeared before Dhruva in his Brihad Swarupa, Dhruva was elevated to heights of trance and commended Paramatma as follows:

Bhumiraaponalo Vaayuh Swam Mano Buhhirevacha,

Bhutaadiraadi prakrrutisya rupam Natosmitam/

Shuddhaha Sukshmokhila vyaapi Prathaanaatparatah pumaan,

Yasya rupam Namastasmai Purushaaya Gunaashiney/

Bhuraadeenaam Samataanaam gandha dinaam cha Shasvatah,

Budhyaa dinaam Prathaana -sya Purushasya cha yah parah/

Tam Brahma bhutaatmaanaamasesha jagatah patim,

Prapadye sharanam Suuddham twadrupam Parameshwara/

Bruhatvaad  brumhana twaavascha yuadrupam Bramha samjnitam,

Tasmai Namastey Sarvaatmanyogi Chintyaa –vikaariney/

Sahasra sheershaa Purushaha Sahasraakshah Sahasrapaat,

Sarvavyaapi Bhuvah Sparshyaadityan tishthatishthadyashaangulam/

Yadbhutam yaccha vai Bhavyam Purushottama tadbhavaan,

Twatto Viraat Swaraat Samraat Tvattaschaayappyabhi Purushah/

Atyaricchyat soddhascha Tiryagurdhwam cha vai bhuvah,

Twatto Vishvamidam jaatam Twatvo Bhuta  Bhavishyati/

Tadrupa dhaarinaschatantarbhutam Sarvamidam Jagat,

Tatto Yagnah Sarvahutah Prushadaajyam Pashurdwidhaa/

Twaktah Ruchotha Saamaani Twaktascchandaamsi  jijarey,

Tawatto Yajumshyajaayanta twattoschaaschaikato datah/

Gaavastwattah Samudbhutaastwattojaa Avayo Mrigaah,

Twadmukhada Brahmanaastwatto baahoh Kshatramajaayata/

Vaishvaastvorujaaha Shudraastwa Padbhyaam samudgataah,

Akshanoh Suryonilah Praanaaschandramaa Manastatwa/

Praanontah Sushiraajjaato Mukhaadagnirajaatata,

Naabhito Gaganam Dyouscha Shirasah Samavartata/

Dishah Shrotraatikshatih Padbhyaam twattah Sarvamabhudidam/

Nyagrodhah sumahaanalpey yathaa Beejo Vyavasthitah,

Samyamey Vishvamakhilam Beeja bhuto tathaa twayi/

Beejaankura sambhuto  nyagrodhastu Samrittitah,

Vistaaram chayathaa yaati twatthah srushtou tathaa Jagat/

Yathaahi kadalee naanyaa twakpatraadapi drushyatey,

Evam Vishyasya naanyastwam twatsthayeeswarah drushyatey/

Hlaadini Sandhini Samvittvaiyeka Sarvsamsthitou,

Hlaadataapakaari Mishraa twayi no gunavarjitey/

Pruthak bhutaika Bhutaayaa Bhuta Bhutaaya tey namah,

Prabhutabhuta bhutaaya tubhyam Bhutaamaney namah/

Vyaktam Pradhana Purushou Viraat Samrat Swarat tathaa,

Vibhaavyentah karaney Prusheshavakshayo Bhavaan/

Sarvasmin  Sarva Bhutastwam Sarvah Sarvasya rupadhtruk,

Sarvam twattastascha twam namah Sarvaatmanestu tey/

Sarvaatmakosi Sarvesha Sarva bhutastatho yatah,

Kathayaami tatah kim te Sarvam  vetsi hladasthitam/

Sarvaatma Sarva Bhutesha Sarva satwa samudbhava,

Sarva Bhuto Bhavanvetti Sarva Satvamanoratham/

Yo mey Manoratho naama saphalah sa twayaa krutah,

Tapascha taptam saphalam  yadrushtosi Jagatapatey/

(Bhagavan ! Your varied forms are of Prithvi, Jala, Agni, Vaayu, Aakaasha, Manas, Buddhi, Ahamkaara, and Mula Prakriti. Parama Purusha!You are Shuddha, Sukshma, Sarvavyapakaand of such several such magnificent traits! May I seek refuge  from Akhila Brahmanda Nayaka Shuddha Swarupaatma!as you are the controller of  Prithivyaadi Pancha Bhutaas, Buddhyaadi Antahkaranagyata Gunaas and Sahasra Mastaka- Sahasra Netra – Sahasra Paada yuta Sanatana Purusha! You are the Bhuta- Vartamana-Bhavishya Jnaata ! You are the Virat-Swarat-Samraat and the Creator of Brahmaadi Devas. You are the Supreme Srashta of SwarupaBhuta Brahmanda and its contents. You are the Origin of Ruk Yaju -Saama Vedas, Gayatyadi Chhandaas, You are the Srava Mriga- Pashu-Adi  Sridhti-Karana! From your face were born Brahmanas, your shoulders and hands were materialised Kshatriyaas, Vaishyas from your thighs and others from your feet; from your eyes were produced Surya, Vaayu from your breathing, Chandra from your mind, Life toall Beings from your nose, Agni from your face, Aakasha fron your navel, Swrga from your head, Dasa Dishaas or Ten Directions from your  ears, Prithvi from your charanaas, and thus the entire ‘Charaachara Jagat’from your own Being. Just as a tiny seed is the origin for Maha Vrikshas, the Unique Samsara is created and at the Time of Pralaya gets absorbed back into the ‘Beeja’ taking shape again at the Time of Creation. You are the holding hingelike Hlaadini or the Source of Happiness and  Sandhini or thePreserver. You are also the Samvita or Vidya Shakti, the  Vishaya Janya or the Product of Samsara Gunas of Joys and Sorrows; although You are the Nirguna or Featurelss but again the  Fountain of Satvika- Raajasika-Tamo Gunas! From the ‘Karya Drishtata’or the view point of Actions, You assume myriad forms but from ‘Kaarana Drishtata’ or the view-point of cause and effect; you are just the Single Form. From one’s own ‘Antahkarana’ or Inner Conciousness, You are the Maha Tatwa, Pradhana, Purusha and of  Virat-Swarat-Samrat Rupas!You are the Akshaya, Sarva Bhuta Guna Swarupa, Samasta Guna Dharaka, Sarvatma, Sarveswara, Sarva Bhuta Vyapta, My Tapasya has been fulfilled as you have given me the ‘Saakshaakaara’ or Your Glorious Darshana as I am ever beholden to you fulfilling my life-ambition.) In response to Dhruva’s sincere commendation, Bhagavan blessed Dhruva and stated:

Trailokyaadadhikey Sthaaney Sarva Taaraagrahaashrayah,

Bhavishyati na Sandeho Matprasaadaabhavaan Dhruva/

Suryaatsomaatathaa Bhowmaat Soma Putraad Brihaspateyh,

Sitaarkatanayaadeenaam Sarvaksharnaam tathaa Dhruva/

Sapratashinaamaseshenaam ye cha aimanikaah Suraah,

Sarveshaamupari sthaanam tava dattam mayaa Dhruva/

Kechichaturyugam Yaavatke -chimanvantaram  Suraah,

Tishthanti Bhavato dattaa  mayaavai Kalpasamsthitih/

Sunitirapitey Maataa twadaasannithi nirmalaa,

Vimaaney Tarakaa Bhutwaa Taavatkaalam nivasyati/

Ye chatwaam Manavaah Praatah Sayam cha Susumaahitaah,

Keertishyanti teshaam cha Mahatpunyam Bhavishyati/

( Dhruva ! I shall bestow to you a Dhruva Sthaan or a Constant Place on the Sky and that be above the Lokas of  Surya, Chandra, Mangala, Budha, Brihaspati, Shukra, and Shani Grahaas, above all the Places of Nakshatras, Sapta Rishis, and far above the Residences of Devas. Devatas would have the longevity of only Four Yugas and a few last only one Manvantara, but I grant you life for a full Kalpa! Your mother (who was the first inspirationfor you to search for me when you were insulted by your step mother) would also last as a Star near Dhruva Loka travelling comfortably in a Vimana. Whosoever pray in your favour about your unending devotion to me either early morning or in the night fall would indeed be eligible for Maha Punya.)



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