God Awarded Dhruva Mahārāja Both Benefits
The history of Dhruva Mahārāja perfectly demonstrates the purifying power of devotional service. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that even if one approaches the Supreme Lord with mixed motives or material desires, the very act of rendering service to Him completely cleanses the heart. When the Lord reveals Himself, all mundane ambitions are instantly replaced by an unquenchable thirst for His eternal, loving association.
The Severe Austerities
Driven by a deep sense of insult, the young prince embarked on a journey that would lead him to the Absolute Truth. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Dhruva Mahārāja wanted to have the kingdom of his father, but his father refused even to allow him to get on his lap; in order to fulfill his desire, the Lord had already created a planet known as the polestar, Dhruvaloka. Following the strict instructions of his guru, Dhruva undertook unimaginable penances. For the first month Dhruva Mahārāja 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. His determination intensified, and in the fourth month Dhruva Mahārāja 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. Finally, when Dhruva Mahārāja was undergoing penance and meditating upon the form of Viṣṇu within his heart, the Viṣṇu form suddenly disappeared, and his meditation broke; upon opening his eyes, Dhruva Mahārāja immediately saw Viṣṇu before him.
- Dhruva Maharaja wanted to have the kingdom of his father, but his father refused even to allow him to get on his lap. In order to fulfill his desire, the Lord had already created a planet known as the polestar, Dhruvaloka.
- 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.
- 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.
- When Dhruva Maharaja was undergoing penance and meditating upon the form of Visnu within his heart, the Visnu form suddenly disappeared, and his meditation broke. Upon opening his eyes, Dhruva Maharaja immediately saw Visnu before him.
Seeing the Lord Face to Face
The sudden appearance of the Supreme Person completely overwhelmed the young boy. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes that when Dhruva Mahārāja personally saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face, he was very much agitated in awe and respect, and it appeared as if he were drinking the entire body of the Lord with his eyes. Unable to offer proper prayers, the boy was blessed directly by the Lord; the Lord touched His conch to Dhruva's forehead, and he was transcendentally inspired. This inspiration is called brahma-maya because when one is thus inspired, the sound he produces exactly corresponds to the sound vibration of the Vedas. Awakened to perfect knowledge, Dhruva Mahārāja said: "My dear Lord, You are all-powerful. After entering within me, You have enlivened all my sleeping senses—my hands, legs, ears, touch sensation, life force and especially my power of speech." Thus, although Dhruva Mahārāja worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead for a material benediction, when he actually achieved the favor of the Supreme Lord and saw Him, he was so satisfied that he refused to accept any material benediction.
- When Dhruva Maharaja personally saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face, he was very much agitated in awe and respect, and it appeared as if he were drinking the entire body of the Lord with his eyes.
- The Lord touched His conch to Dhruva's forehead, and he was transcendentally inspired. This inspiration is called brahma-maya because when one is thus inspired, the sound he produces exactly corresponds to the sound vibration of the Vedas.
- Dhruva Maharaja said: My dear Lord, You are all-powerful. After entering within me, You have enlivened all my sleeping senses - my hands, legs, ears, touch sensation, life force and especially my power of speech.
- Dhruva Maharaja worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead for a material benediction, but when he actually achieved the favor of the Supreme Lord and saw Him, he was so satisfied that he refused to accept any material benediction.
Repentance and Supreme Satisfaction
The purifying presence of the Lord instantly eradicated all of Dhruva's worldly ambitions. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that he did not demand actual liberation from this material world, but at the end of his devotional service, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared before him, he was simply ashamed of the material demands he had in his mind. Realizing his foolishness, Mahārāja Dhruva says, "I had been searching out some pieces of broken glass, but instead I have found the most valuable jewel. I am therefore fully satisfied, my Lord. I do not wish to ask anything more from Your Lordship." This ultimate realization is recorded in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, where he said, svāmin kṛtārtho 'smi varaṁ na yāce: "My dear Lord, I am fully satisfied with whatever You have given me or not given me. I have nothing to ask from You, for I am fully satisfied to be engaged in Your service." Ultimately, Dhruva Mahārāja regrets that he wanted material opulence and greater prosperity than that of his great-grandfather, Lord Brahmā; his begging from the Lord was like a poor man's asking a great emperor for a few grains of broken rice.
- He did not demand actual liberation from this material world, but at the end of his devotional service, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared before him, he was simply ashamed of the material demands he had in his mind.
- Maharaj Dhruva says, "I had been searching out some pieces of broken glass, but instead I have found the most valuable jewel. I am therefore fully satisfied, my Lord. I do not wish to ask anything more from Your Lordship."
- He (Dhruva Maharaja) said, svamin krtartho 'smi varam na yace: (CC Madhya 22.42) My dear Lord, I am fully satisfied with whatever You have given me or not given me. I have nothing to ask from You, for I am fully satisfied to be engaged in Your service.
- Dhruva Maharaja regrets that he wanted material opulence and greater prosperity than that of his great-grandfather, Lord Brahma. His begging from the Lord was like a poor man's asking a great emperor for a few grains of broken rice.
Awarding Both Benefits
Despite the boy's refusal to accept any mundane reward, the Supreme Lord is famously known to perfectly fulfill the desires of His devotees. Śrīla Prabhupāda confirms that Dhruva Mahārāja went to worship God to gain something, but when he actually came in contact with God he did not want anything from the Lord; the Lord, however, awarded Dhruva Mahārāja both benefits—that is, the Lord fulfilled his desires. First, He gave Dhruva the opportunity to rule this material world for thirty-six thousand years with unchangeable senses and the chance to perform many great sacrifices and thus become the most reputed king within this material world. Furthermore, the Lord assured Dhruva Mahārāja that Dhruva would not be bereft of the Lord's love; He encouraged Dhruva not to be worried that he childishly had material desires and at the same time had the pure aspiration to be a great devotee. For his ultimate destination, the Personality of Godhead continued: "My dear Dhruva, after your material life in this body, you will go to My planet, which is always offered obeisances by the residents of all other planetary systems."
- Dhruva Maharaja went to worship God to gain something, but when he actually came in contact with God he did not want anything from the Lord. The Lord, however, awarded Dhruva Maharaja both benefits - that is, the Lord fulfilled his desires.
- He (the Lord) gave Dhruva the opportunity to rule this material world for thirty-six thousand years with unchangeable senses and the chance to perform many great sacrifices and thus become the most reputed king within this material world.
- The Lord assured Dhruva Maharaja that Dhruva would not be bereft of the Lord's love. He encouraged Dhruva not to be worried that he childishly had material desires and at the same time had the pure aspiration to be a great devotee.
- The Personality of Godhead continued: My dear Dhruva, after your material life in this body, you will go to My planet, which is always offered obeisances by the residents of all other planetary systems.
The Final Destination
Having ruled his kingdom with perfect devotion, surpassing the mechanical achievements of mystic yogīs, Dhruva was finally ready to return back to Godhead. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that throughout his life he tried to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead by austerity and penances; now, the mature result was that Dhruva Mahārāja became fit to be carried to the spiritual world, accompanied by the confidential associates of the Lord. At the time of his departure, the associates of Lord Viṣṇu brought the special airplane for Dhruva Mahārāja and then informed him that Lord Viṣṇu had especially sent this airplane. The airplane sent by Lord Viṣṇu to carry Dhruva Mahārāja to Śiśumāra was a completely spiritual, transcendental airplane; material scientists can neither see such vehicles nor imagine how they fly in the air. Understanding the absolute nature of the Lord and His paraphernalia, Dhruva Mahārāja knew all this very well, as a pure Vaiṣṇava, and he offered his respects to the associates and to the plane before riding in it.
- Throughout his life he tried to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead by austerity and penances. Now, the mature result was that Dhruva Maharaja became fit to be carried to the spiritual world, accompanied by the confidential associates of the Lord.
- The associates of Lord Visnu brought the special airplane for Dhruva Maharaja and then informed him that Lord Visnu had especially sent this airplane.
- The airplane sent by Lord Visnu to carry Dhruva Maharaja to Sisumara was a completely spiritual, transcendental airplane. Material scientists can neither see such vehicles nor imagine how they fly in the air.
- Dhruva Maharaja knew all this (everything of Visnu's is as good as Lord Visnu) very well, as a pure Vaisnava, and he offered his respects to the associates and to the plane before riding in it.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings regarding the boy-saint Dhruva Mahārāja vividly illustrate the incomparable potency of sincere devotional service. Even when undertaken with material ambitions, properly directed austerities under the guidance of a bona fide guru will ultimately lead one to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Upon seeing the breathtaking beauty of Lord Viṣṇu, Dhruva's childish desires for a kingdom were entirely vanquished, replaced by pure, unalloyed devotion. The Lord, however, is so magnanimous that He not only granted Dhruva an unimaginably opulent earthly reign, but He also eternally reserved the supreme spiritual planet of Dhruvaloka for him. Thus, the history of Dhruva Mahārāja eternally serves as a beacon of hope, proving that the Supreme Lord perfectly fulfills the desires of His devotees while gently elevating them to the ultimate perfection of life.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category God and Dhruva. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.