०१७

उत्तानपादनृपतेर्मनुनन्दनस्य
जाया बभूव सुरुचिर्नितरामभीष्टा ।
अन्या सुनीतिरिति भर्तुरनादृता सा
त्वामेव नित्यमगतिः शरणं गताऽभूत् ॥ १॥

उत्तानपादनृपतेर्मनुनन्दनस्य
जाया बभूव सुरुचिर्नितरामभीष्टा ।
अन्या सुनीतिरिति भर्तुरनादृता सा
त्वामेव नित्यमगतिः शरणं गताऽभूत् ॥ १॥

King Uttanapada, the son of Swayambhuva Manu, had two wives, by name Suruchi and Suneethi. The king was very fond of Suruchi but ignored Suneethi altogether. Having no other support, Suneethi took refuge in Thee alone.

अङ्के पितुः सुरुचिपुत्रकमुत्तमं तं
दृष्ट्वा ध्रुवः किल सुनीतिसुतोऽधिरोक्ष्यन् ।
आचिक्षिपे किल शिशुः सुतरां सुरुच्या
दुस्सन्त्यजा खलु भवद्विमुखैरसूया ॥ २॥

अङ्के पितुः सुरुचिपुत्रकमुत्तमं तं
दृष्ट्वा ध्रुवः किल सुनीतिसुतोऽधिरोक्ष्यन् ।
आचिक्षिपे किल शिशुः सुतरां सुरुच्या
दुस्सन्त्यजा खलु भवद्विमुखैरसूया ॥ २॥

Once when Uttama, son of Suruchi, was sitting on his father’s lap, Dhruva, son of Suneethi, wished to do the same but was stopped by Suruchi, who scolded him harshly. Oh Guruvayurappa ! Those who have no devotion to Thee are indeed very jealous at heart.

त्वन्मोहिते पितरि पश्यति दारवश्ये
दूरं दुरुक्तिनिहतः स गतो निजाम्बाम् ।
साऽपि स्वकर्मगतिसन्तरणाय पुंसां
त्वत्पादमेव शरणं शिशवे शशंस ॥ ३॥

त्वन्मोहिते पितरि पश्यति दारवश्ये
दूरं दुरुक्तिनिहतः स गतो निजाम्बाम् ।
साऽपि स्वकर्मगतिसन्तरणाय पुंसां
त्वत्पादमेव शरणं शिशवे शशंस ॥ ३॥

The father who was blinded by his infatuation for Suruchi, remained a silent witness to the cruel treatment meted out by her to the boy. Deeply wounded at heart, Dhruva went in search of his mother. She consoled the child, saying that taking refuge at Thy feet alone would help one overcome the ill effects of one’s previous actions.

आकर्ण्य सोऽपि भवदर्चनिश्चितात्मा
मानी निरेत्य नगरात्किल पञ्चवर्षः ।
सन्दृष्टनारदनिवेदितमन्त्रमार्गस्
त्वामारराध तपसा मधुकाननान्ते ॥ ४॥

आकर्ण्य सोऽपि भवदर्चनिश्चितात्मा
मानी निरेत्य नगरात्किल पञ्चवर्षः ।
सन्दृष्टनारदनिवेदितमन्त्रमार्गस्
त्वामारराध तपसा मधुकाननान्ते ॥ ४॥

Following his mother’s advice, the child who was only five years old, yet full of self respect set out of the city, determined to pray to Thee. Sage Narada, whom he met on the way taught him the method of worshipping Thee by reciting Mantras. With that knowledge, he proceeded to the forest, Madhuvana, to do penance.

ताते विषण्णहृदये नगरीं गतेन
श्रीनारदेन परिसान्त्वितचित्तवृत्तौ ।
बालस्त्वदर्पितमनाः क्रमवर्धितेन
निन्ये कठोरतपसा किल पञ्च मासान् ॥ ५॥

ताते विषण्णहृदये नगरीं गतेन
श्रीनारदेन परिसान्त्वितचित्तवृत्तौ ।
बालस्त्वदर्पितमनाः क्रमवर्धितेन
निन्ये कठोरतपसा किल पञ्च मासान् ॥ ५॥

King Uttanapada, who was grieving at heart, after Dhruva’s departure to the forest, was consoled by Narada, who came to the palace. Meanwhile, the boy, with his mind fully dedicated to Thee spent five months in rigorous penance, intensifying it, step by step.

तावत्तपोबलनिरुच्छ्वसिते दिगन्ते
देवार्थितस्त्वमुदयत्करुणार्द्रचेताः ।
त्वद्रूपचिद्रसनिलीनमतेः पुरस्ता
दाविर्बभूविथ विभो गरुडाधिरूढः ॥ ६॥

तावत्तपोबलनिरुच्छ्वसिते दिगन्ते
देवार्थितस्त्वमुदयत्करुणार्द्रचेताः ।
त्वद्रूपचिद्रसनिलीनमतेः पुरस्ता
दाविर्बभूविथ विभो गरुडाधिरूढः ॥ ६॥

Owing to the intensity of Dhruva’s penance, living creatures in all the directions began to feel suffocated. The gods prayed to Thee to save them. So, with Thy heart overflowing with mercy, Thou appeared, seated on Garuda, before Dhruva, whose heart was fully immersed in Thy divine ecstatic form.

त्वद्दर्शनप्रमदभारतरङ्गितं तं
दृग्भ्यां निमग्नमिव रूपरसायने ते ।
तुष्टूषमाणमवगम्य कपोलदेशे
संस्पृष्टवानसि दरेण तथाऽऽदरेण ॥ ७॥

त्वद्दर्शनप्रमदभारतरङ्गितं तं
दृग्भ्यां निमग्नमिव रूपरसायने ते ।
तुष्टूषमाणमवगम्य कपोलदेशे
संस्पृष्टवानसि दरेण तथाऽऽदरेण ॥ ७॥

Thy divine appearance filled Dhruva’s heart with waves of ecstasy. Deeply submerged in the nectar of Thy form, he was kindled with the desire to praise Thee. Knowing his desire, Thou gently caressed his cheek, with Thy conch (the source of Sabda Brahma).

तावद्विबोधविमलं प्रणुवन्तमेन
माभाषथास्त्वमवगम्य तदीयभावम् ।
राज्यं चिरं समनुभूय भजस्व भूयः
सर्वोत्तरं ध्रुव पदं विनिवृत्तिहीनम् ॥ ८॥

तावद्विबोधविमलं प्रणुवन्तमेन
माभाषथास्त्वमवगम्य तदीयभावम् ।
राज्यं चिरं समनुभूय भजस्व भूयः
सर्वोत्तरं ध्रुव पदं विनिवृत्तिहीनम् ॥ ८॥

Then Dhruva, with his mind, purified and enlightened by Thy divine touch, sang Thy praises to his heart’s content. Thou blessed him to rule over the kingdom happily for a long time. Thou then granted him the boon of attaining the highest abode, the Dhruvapadam, from which there would be no return to the nether regions.

इत्यूचिषि त्वयि गते नृपनन्दनोऽसौ
आनन्दिताखिलजनो नगरीमुपेतः ।
रेमे चिरं भवदनुग्रहपूर्णकामस्
ताते गते च वनमादृतराज्यभारः ॥ ९॥

इत्यूचिषि त्वयि गते नृपनन्दनोऽसौ
आनन्दिताखिलजनो नगरीमुपेतः ।
रेमे चिरं भवदनुग्रहपूर्णकामस्
ताते गते च वनमादृतराज्यभारः ॥ ९॥

After Thou had departed blessing Dhruva thus, the prince returned to the city, to the joy of all. All his wishes were fulfilled with Thy grace. After his father retired to the forest to do penance, he ruled the kingdom happily for a long time.

यक्षेण देव निहते पुनरुत्तमेऽस्मिन्
यक्षैः स युद्धनिरतो विरतो मनूक्त्या ।
शान्त्या प्रसन्नहृदयाद्धनदादुपेतात्
त्वद्भक्तिमेव सुदृढामवृणोन्महात्मा ॥ १०॥

यक्षेण देव निहते पुनरुत्तमेऽस्मिन्
यक्षैः स युद्धनिरतो विरतो मनूक्त्या ।
शान्त्या प्रसन्नहृदयाद्धनदादुपेतात्
त्वद्भक्तिमेव सुदृढामवृणोन्महात्मा ॥ १०॥

Oh Guruvayurappa ! Once when Dhruva’s brother, Uttama, was killed by a Yaksha, he was determined to wage war against the Yakshas, but in compliance with the request of Swayambhuva Manu, Dhruva withdrew from the war. Kubera, the king of the Yakshas, being pleased with Dhruva’s forbearance, granted him a boon, but the large-hearted Dhruva, asked only for the boon of firm devotion to Thee.

अन्ते भवत्पुरुषनीतविमानयातो
मात्रा समं ध्रुवपदे मुदितोऽयमास्ते ।
एवं स्वभृत्यजनपालनलोलधीस्त्वं
वातालयाधिप निरुन्धि ममामयौघान् ॥ ११॥

अन्ते भवत्पुरुषनीतविमानयातो
मात्रा समं ध्रुवपदे मुदितोऽयमास्ते ।
एवं स्वभृत्यजनपालनलोलधीस्त्वं
वातालयाधिप निरुन्धि ममामयौघान् ॥ ११॥

When Dhruva’s life came to an end, he went with his mother in the aerial car brought by Thy servants, to the Dhruva region high up in the heavens, where to this day he resides happily as a guiding star. Oh Guruvayurappa ! May Thou who art an ardent protector of Thy devotees, remove my afflictions.