The Tale of Dhruva, Suruchi, and King Uttanpada
Long ago, in ancient India, there lived a powerful king named **Uttanpada**, a descendant of the Sun Dynasty. King Uttanpada had two queens: **Suniti**, his first wife, who was kind-hearted and compassionate, and **Suruchi**, his second wife, who was beautiful but proud and envious. Each queen had a son—**Dhruva**, Suniti’s son, and **Uttama**, the son of Suruchi.
One day, young Dhruva, who was only five years old, saw his half-brother Uttama sitting on King Uttanpada’s lap, playing with him happily. Innocently, Dhruva approached his father, longing for the same affection. But as he tried to sit on his father’s lap, Queen Suruchi stopped him. With a stern voice, she said, “Dhruva, you cannot sit on the king’s lap. Only my son Uttama has that right, for I am the favored queen.”
Confused and hurt by these harsh words, Dhruva looked up at his father, hoping for support. But to his dismay, King Uttanpada remained silent, afraid to upset Suruchi. Queen Suruchi continued, “If you want to be loved by your father and sit on his lap, you must be born as my son in your next life. Only then will you have that right.”
Devastated and humiliated, young Dhruva ran to his mother, Suniti, and shared what had happened. Suniti, saddened by her son’s pain, gently consoled him. “My dear Dhruva, do not be angry or hurt by Queen Suruchi’s words. Instead, find solace in the Lord. Only He can grant you the highest blessings and fulfill your desires.”
Inspired by his mother’s words, Dhruva resolved to seek the blessings of **Lord Vishnu**, the Supreme God. With unwavering determination, he left his palace and went deep into the forest to meditate. Even at his young age, Dhruva showed immense courage and dedication. He began meditating with full concentration, chanting the Lord’s name and focusing only on his spiritual goal.
The celestial sage **Narada** noticed the young prince’s resolve and approached him, testing his commitment. “Dhruva,” Narada said, “you are too young to undergo such severe hardships. Go back to your palace; you will find happiness there.” But Dhruva remained undeterred, expressing his strong desire to seek Lord Vishnu’s blessings and prove his worth.
Impressed by his determination, Sage Narada taught Dhruva the sacred **mantra** to invoke Lord Vishnu’s presence. For months, Dhruva continued his intense meditation, sustaining himself on minimal food and water, his mind focused solely on the Lord. Seeing his devotion, Lord Vishnu was moved and appeared before him.
Dhruva was awestruck by the divine presence of Lord Vishnu, who blessed him and said, “Dhruva, I am pleased with your devotion. Ask me for any boon, and it shall be granted.”
With a humble heart, Dhruva expressed his desire for love, acceptance, and recognition. Vishnu smiled, knowing the purity of Dhruva’s heart, and blessed him with not only his father’s love but also a place among the stars in the heavens. Lord Vishnu promised that Dhruva would be eternal, shining as the **Dhruva Nakshatra** (Pole Star), guiding all travelers with his steadfast light.
When Dhruva returned to the palace, King Uttanpada welcomed him with open arms, overcome with guilt for not standing up for his son earlier. Queen Suruchi, too, was humbled by Dhruva’s inner strength and wisdom. Dhruva grew up to be a wise and just ruler, loved and respected by all.
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**Moral of the Story:**
The tale of Dhruva teaches us that **true determination and unwavering faith can overcome any obstacle**. Despite his young age and the injustices he faced, Dhruva’s devotion to Lord Vishnu and his inner strength helped him attain the highest blessings. The story also reminds us that humility and patience can lead to greater rewards than pride and envy, as Dhruva’s resilience earned him a place in the stars, eternal and unchanging.