Creation and Criticism

Priyavrata and Uttanapada were sons of Manu and Satarupa. The princes cared for the future of man and the world. They were worried about the humankind, and so, to serve and look after humankind was a sacred obligation for the princes. To protect humanity from forces inimical was the most significant task for the king. The blessings of Lord Krishna (Vasudeva) energised and inspired the princes. It was not necessary that a man loved everyone. Uttanpada loved Surichi more. Suniti the other queen knew but did not express. Suniti gave birth to Dhruva and this caused some inherent insensitivity. The king was more inclined toward Uttama, who took birth from the womb of Surichi.

Indifferent attitude of Surichi and father Uttanpada disturbed Dhruva, who went back to mother. She advised not to nurse evil thoughts and these words determined the future course of life of Dhruva. She spoke of Karmas of man and its impact on life. She inspired Dhruva to eschew life of hate and bitterness. Life ennobled and elevated a man if he worshipped Sri Hari (Vishnu, Krishna), who was Sattva Gunas – virtues personified, and surrendered at the feet of the lord. Therefore, she asked to forget the acidic, humiliating and discouraging words of queen Surichi.

Sage Narada also told that a man enjoyed or suffered according to the fruit of karmas of previous life. In different perspectives, the celestial sage spoke of life, its moments of cheers and misfortunes, and of the virtues and celestial blessings. If man looked at virtues and tried to cultivate virtuous qualities, life has meaning. The path Suniti suggested was the best to attain the supreme wellbeing and the highest good of humanity. Narada went to the king and revealed the intents and objective of Dhruva. King Uttanpada was remorseful for his conduct of callousness and insensitivity toward the queen and prince Dhruva.

Tapa and penance of Dhruva created enormous upheavals in heavens and the gods appeared before Brahma for relief and shelter because the intensity of tapa of Dhruva made everyone uncertain out of fear. Dedication of Dhruva delighted the Supreme, who blessed him and so he attained what was beyond the ephemeral. Penance and devotion of Dhruva were a journey to worldly anguish, jealousy and bitterness of relations, conspiracies, abandonment of life of joys, renunciation, significance of pious karmas, encounter with sage Narada, tapa and self-punishment and the knowledge of ‘the self’. The glimpses of the Supreme lord and the attainment of the unrealizable brought fulfillment.

Swayambhuva Manu, a king of eminence and virtues sprang from the right half of Brahma, people believe, and so he acquired unique significance. He had two sons – Priyavrata and Uttanapada from queen Satarupa. The forces inimical to the life of man and the world worried Manu’s sons. The welfare of humanity was a sacred and important function of the princes and therefore, they concentrated their energies on safeguarding the world from dangers and destruction. They knew that the lord had blessed them with the divine ray of protective energy of Vasudeva. Uttanpada and the queens (Suniti and Suruchi) were revered women in the kingdom. However, King Uttanpada loved Surichi more than Suniti, mother of Dhruva. Uttanpada did not like Suniti much and so, a feeling of impassiveness disturbed. Destiny played its role and devised suitable mechanism for the mortals that materialized eventually.

One day, Uttanpada sat happily, took prince Uttama in the lap and fondled with love and affection. Little prince Dhruva also came crawling and wanted to sit in the lap of the king. Uttanpada did not appreciate. Surichi was conscious of the weakness of the king for Uttama and so, was extremely proud. When she saw Dhruva wanting to sit in the lap, she spoke meanly and despicably, “O child, you are not fit to ascend the throne. What is special if you are a prince? What does it mean? I did not conceive you. You are innocent I know but you do not know that you took birth from another womb. It makes you to aspire for an objective difficult to attain. If you are eager and desirous of a great empire, you undergo tapa (severe penance), propitiate the Supreme Person, seek rebirth through me and with the generous grace of the supreme lord, yearn for the throne.”

A serpent beaten up with a stick hisses in indignation and anger, and in the same way, queen’s piercing words entered child’s ears and he felt deeply hurt. He left the lap of father and went away into the lap of mother Suniti crying loudly as the king kept looking blankly as if nothing had happened.

A weak king obsessed with the love of queen Surichi, did not react. On the other hand, child Dhruva did not respond but felt hurt, cried and sat in the lap of queen mother with quivering lips. After a moment, he was upset and so wept again, continued sobbing and therefore, Suniti picked up Dhruva in the lap. When she heard from the inmates of the palace what Suruchi said, she was deeply disappointed. She lost patience, equanimity, and the acute grief seared her like the forest fire that reduces a wild creeper to a disfigured non-entity. The young mother lost heart and cried. Lotus-like tears-filled eyes appeared swollen as she recalled the bitter and stinging utterances of co-wife Surichi. A sad queen saw no end to agony. She heaved a deep sigh and said, “O son, entertain no evil thoughts.”

She looked deeply into the child’s eyes and it was clear, what she meant and then, after a short pause, said, “He, who gives troubles, faces consequences. It is also the effect of karmas of previous life. I do not know. It appears I committed sins in earlier life and so, you suffer and face unfavourable attitude of the king. What Suruchi said is correct.”

She thought and said, “The king feels guilty and does not accept me even as a dasi (a maidservant), what to talk of a queen. Suruchi rightly said that you were born in the womb of a wretched woman. I failed to give protection of a father to you. The king dislikes me and does not love you. Even if she is a stepmother, Suruchi speaks the truth. If you want to sit like Uttama on the throne, then you abandon bitterness and jealousy. You accept truth without feelings of resentment and offer prayers at the lotus feet of Vishnu, who is beyond the range of perception. At the same time, you undertake austere tapa, and you will be fit to ascend the throne.”

She advised, “Through worship at the lotus feet of Vishnu (Sattva personified) the protection of universe is possible because he preserves the creation with the force of Sattva Gunas. Grandfather Supreme Brahma attained the most elevated position, an object of prayers and tapa of monks, who even conquer the minds and senses. Even the grandfather, the most reverential Manu secured earthly and heavenly beatitude, which is very difficult to attain even if you adopt other methods I understand. To achieve the sacred objective he worshipped the lord with single-minded devotion, organized Yajnas and offered sacrificial fees to the Brahmins of learning for fruitfully and religiously, finishing the task of Yajna.

Therefore, O child, take refuge in him alone because he loves devotees. Lord Vishnu blesses people wanting riddance from the cycle of birth and death. If people seek shelter at lord’s feet and look for deliverance in a spirit of humility and devotion, they get liberated from the vicious circle of visiting different Yonis.”

A caring mother felt emotionally disturbed, for she did not wish to see a sad child because she had foreseen little hope in persuading a prejudiced king, who took no interest in the wellbeing of the prince and the queen.

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Queen Suniti guides Dhruva in hour of crisis while Narada counsels

The king did not love queen Suniti was obvious and so, she thought seriously and convinced a dejected child to live a meaningful devoted existence in the worship of Vishnu.

She said, “O son, keep the image of lord in mind, adore and worship the Supreme Person. I find none else than the lotus-eyed lord, who can wipe out the tears and sorrows. Like Laksmi, the goddess of beauty and prosperity whom many seek eagerly O dear child, to find solution to miseries and pains, and therefore, seek sanctuary at the holy feet of the lord.”

Sane counsel of revered mother pacified the lacerated heart of prince whom bitter words of stepmother had stung. He realised mother’s advice was favourable to the attainment of real destination. He was convinced that it was of no use to feel jealous of anyone, as it could be an effect of earlier birth. Dhruva controlled mind and heart, rationalized with a clear mind, and left the palace.

Incidentally, sage Narada came to know of Dhruva’s intent. He met Dhruva on the way, touched child’s head and showered blessings and then, in wonder, whispered, “The spirit of Ksatriya is wonderful and dazzling. Just see, still a little child but is hurt deeply. Acidic words of a stepmother give trouble. None listened to the truth and delved deep into the child’s mental makeup. You ought to understand.” He looked into the eyes of Dhruva.

Sage Narada said, “None finds anything favorable to honour or humiliation at this stage …when one is a child. It is an age of playing and frolicking. Insult or honour carries no meaning.” The sage wanted to reveal truth of human behaviour.

He further told, “If you nurse a sense of honour or ignominy at this age, it may be… because of other reasons. Ignorance or mania causes discontentment to a man because he gets the fruit of karmas of previous life whether comforts, sufferings, favour or disgrace. So I find nothing to grieve over.” Dhruva tried to understand import of Narada’s advice, and looked at him.

After sometime, the sage said gently, “O child, strange are the ways of god. A wise man should think over and therefore, confront whatever comes before him in life and remain at ease, for it is the will of destiny. On the advice of mother queen, you wish to seek blessings of the lord, and want to undergo austere tapa and discipline. For an ordinary man, it is difficult to propitiate the lord. Yogis (the men of discipline) and sages live detached, do severe penance, and through rigorous self-discipline for ages, try to reach the lord but fail to discover the path. Therefore, I wish, you put down obstinacy and tenacity, and return. When you grow up, I would stress that you strive for the attainment of the supreme bliss through devotion and tapa. One should reconcile to divine intrusion and accept what is ordained. An embodied being lives in ignorance and darkness, a mundane existence.”

The celestial sage said again, “O child, a man should feel happy when he looks at someone superior in virtues and imbibe good qualities and virtues. A man should hold feelings of pity and sympathy toward a mediocre person and inculcate friendship with a person of virtues. If a man follows the principles of life, afflictions and miseries will never siege.” He gradually explained the laws of a realistic life.

If one makes sincere efforts to analyze and understand people, one understands that everyone wants to go ahead and gain a little. You get when another fails. It is failure or defeat of an adversary that causes success or victory, for in the survival of life everyone invents ways to move ahead. Genuine and sincere efforts at the right time lead to the desired objective. The acts of dignity and grace are the secrets of success.

Sage Narada tried to explain a few difficulties Dhruva was likely to confront in the real world and advised how to face challenges and sufferings with guts.

Dhruva said, “O venerable sage, I am obliged. You suggest a path of release from the disturbed feelings as one encounters worldly joys and sorrows. However, ignorant people do not comprehend, and fail to see realities. Moreover, I inherited qualities of a Ksatriya and so, lack courtesy and humility. Stepmother Suruchi’s arrow-like bitter words hurt. Therefore, wise words do not fit into the trivial acrimony she nurses and so, a sane counsel does not make an enduring impact. O Brahmin, I wish to attain the highest status in the three worlds, heretofore not achieved. I want to know about the holy path, O sage, so that I attain the goal of life. You are the son of the Supreme Brahma, and for the well-being of the world, you continue to wander like the sun and play on the divine Veena (a lute – a musical guitar like instrument) and thus, advise and gratify created beings, and also caution about hurdles they encounter.”

Dhruva’s wisdom impressed Narada. At such a tender age, he offered reasons and argued modestly on a delicate issue of attaining salvation.

Narada said, “O child, the path mother Suniti suggested leads to the supreme wellbeing and the highest good. You devotedly concentrate on Sri Krishna only. Religious tenets (Dharma: artha – worldly riches, kama – desires and worldly enjoyments and moksa – salvation or beatitude) are the best for a man seeking the wellbeing and perfection if he adores, worships and undertakes tapa and devotion, and concentrates on the lord’s feet. Now, go to the holy bank of river Yamuna near Madhuvan (Mathura), a round track of land where Krishna took birth, and still lives it is believed.”

Sage Narada guided Dhruva and looked on with love and affection. Thereafter, the celestial sage told Dhruva, “Take bath three times a day in the sacred water of Yamuna, clean body, spread a seat of kusa grass, sit cross-legged and fix eyes at the feet of the lord. Cleanse impurities of life breath, senses, mind and adhere to breath-exercises, stabilize the mind and concentrate on the sacred Spirit. A devotee pure of heart and mind, concentrates on the ever cheerful and gracious lord, and therefore, the lord blesses the devotee. He is the grandest, and brilliant with attractive nose, charming brows and lovely cheeks, and is the most enchanting among the gods.” Sage Narada continued to sing glories of virtuous deeds of the supreme lord for a long time from whom everything originated.

He described minutely how the great lord was attired, and ornamented. The celestial illumination and magnificence of the Divine Spirit captivated every devotee, the sage said benignly. Therefore, he should with a pure and focused mind contemplate on the lotus-like feet of the lord, visualize the divine figure, and then, he would secure the lord’s blessings. If he could immersed wholly, he could attain the highest seat of divinity the sage advised the child, who felt indebted.

Sage Narada elucidated meditation and revealed the secret formula. He told about the articles for the prayers and tapa, time and place, and emphasized the worth of pure water, flowers, wild roots, fruit and everything else. The purity of place and articles determined the mind cleansed of impurities.

He gently advised, “Deep devotion heightens the energy of a fixed mind, and adoration and prayers are more fervent sans distraction and in the purity of mind, the thoughts of senses vanish.” Dhruva saluted, paid respect to Narada and went away to seek salvation as guided.

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After Dhruva went to undergo tapa, Narada arrived at the court of King Uttanpada, who gave dazzling majestic honour, reverentially worshipped and requested him to sit.

Sage Narada looked at the withered and melancholic face, and asked, “I do not think you lost anything. I do not find lack or loss in dharma, artha and karma in the kingdom. The kingdom is fine, and the people enjoy in the land of justice, truth and generosity.”

Elegant and stirring utterances did not encourage Uttanpada, and therefore, he said sadly, “I was greatly fond of queen and so was blind to everything else. I am cruel. Woe to me, I exiled a child of five years and queen Suniti. O monk, he was very wise. The lotus-like face must be looking pale and withered because of hunger. I fear he must be fatigued and must have collapsed and fallen unconscious on the way. The wolves may not eat up in the jungle I fear. O sage, see how uxorious and wicked I am.”

“I avoided heartlessly when he wanted to sit in the lap. I was mean and harsh and did not stop Dhurva when he and the queen went out of the palace.” He was penitent and the injustice he hurt intensely.

Narada said, “I assure you. Do not worry. The prince enjoys blessed shelter of Sri Hari.”

The powerful king was now conscious of the weaknesses but he also knew that the glory of the devotee prince would enhance his reputation. Sage Narada consoled but the guilt continued to haunt. The king felt genuinely aggrieved at acts of discrimination and injustice and so, decided to live life of a recluse. On the other hand, on the bank of Yamuna at Mathura, Dhruva adhered to the arduous, austere and bodily hurting routine but was forever growing strong within. The inner self of Dhruva matured in stature as the divine blessings and love poured. A rigorous process of tapa and meditation slowly moved him to perfection where one attains ultimate salvation.

Penance grew more and more terrific steadily, which even the gods wanting to worship Brahma found difficult to follow. Dhruva withdrew mind, the substratum of senses and objects from interruption, exercised control, fixed mind’s energies on the holy form of the lord, and in intensity of devotion and tapa, perceived nothing else.

Severe tapa bewildered everyone and the three worlds began to tremble. However, devotee Dhruva concentrated on Supreme Brahma, the principle of cosmic intelligence, the ruler of matter and spirit. Lastly, to please Brahma, he stood on one foot, on the strength of toe, a feat in terrific tapasya no child ever resorted to earlier. He controlled breath and the senses, stood still as if dead and everything in the triple world appeared to shatter, and afterward, the emerging tremours enhanced the enormity of uncertainties. Imminent dangers shook security of the divine worlds and therefore, the guardians and the deities rushed to Sri Hari.

The gods of heavens apprised the lord of calamity, and requested for shelter and told the Supreme that they did not know that a devotee stops even breathing in severe tapa. Dhruva was the cause of fear for everyone. Therefore, each one was doubtful of future, the gods told the Supreme Spirit. The lord listened to the pleadings, emitted a divine smile and assured, and told not to worry and therefore, the gods and goddesses felt relieved on the guarantee of Supreme Brahma, offered regards, and went back to respective abodes.

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Later on, Brahma decided to see the glory of devotion of Dhruva and therefore, the lord (at times, the devotees believe that he gives darshana in Cosmic form with myriad heads) mounted Garuda and flew to Madhuvana. The lord descended as Vamana (the divine dwarf – an incarnation of Vishnu) with the divine decree to measure the earth with three steps so that King Bali grants land (the entire world) to Vamana.

An unusual act of the lord reveals intensity of devotion and penance of a child sage. A strong longing to see Dhruva it was and so, the greatest devotee of the great lord Vishnu went to the place of tapa. At that time, Dhruva saw a figure, a divine and dazzling spark of luminosity in lotus-like heart and realised a sharp, amazing, and focused intellect of yogic power. A stunning miracle very soon vanished as eyes opened. He beheld a radiant figure before the eyes. Dhruva was astonished, blessed, and immediately, prostrated to say prayers.

He enjoyed the divine light with love and affection, felt like drinking divine nectar with eyes, kissed it with the lips and held the divine radiance strongly in arms. He folded hands, stood before the lord and wanted to praise but did not know how. The lord politely and softly touched Dhruva’s cheek with the conch (the Vedas in concrete form), showered blessings and consecrated the devotee child with the divine speech. Dhruva was destined to have an eternal abode because he had realised the truth of individual soul and the divine glory of the Supreme Spirit in an imploring and serene mind.

Dhruva praised, called the lord the Glorious Person and the Wielder of all potencies. The Supreme awakened the dormant speech, infused life in all organs of the body and thus, the devotee realised the principle of Cosmic Intelligence. He talked of Maya of the lord. The Supreme lord Sri Hari was present in every particle of the three worlds the child sage visualised the great truth. The embodied souls meditating on the lotus-feet got supreme pleasure not found elsewhere because the lord was a wish-yielding tree. The lord listened to Dhruva’s words but did not interrupt.

He said, “O lord, you are beyond. I understand the cosmic form in the shape of animals, trees, mountains, birds, reptiles, gods, demons and human beings consisting of the gross and the subtle elements. The causes are already enshrined in Maha-tattva.” Dhruva spoke of the lord as an eternally free, pure and all knowing ‘Self’ from whom one cannot hide anything and nothing remains uncreated. He is the immutable and the most ancient Person of divine attributes.

“I take refuge in you.” Dhruva cried in elation and ecstasy. The lord was pleased with the adoring and worshipful words of Dhruva. The lord knew that nobody spoke earlier wisely and gently and whatever the child sage spoke about the lord it was eloquent, and the lord still knew that Dhurva was not satisfied. However, the sage child harboured a noble idea, and so, the Supreme lord accepted praise gladly and thereafter, the ever-generous lord, admired him and spoke, “I know you cherish virtuous objectives, O child. Though it is difficult to attain, I grant it, for you took a laudable vow. I bestow a radiant and eternal abode.”

The Supreme lord said, “You will govern the entire world for thirty six thousand years after the king retires to the forest and spends life as a recluse. Righteousness, truth and justice will be unimpaired during the governance and glossy attractions of the transitory world will fail to cause damage. The gross, the disgusting and the crass would not fascinate you because such attributes often act under the spell of Maya. Stepbrother would lose life in a hunting expedition and mother Suniti, after she fails in search would fall victim to the forest fire. You will meditate on me and perform many Yajnas to please. I bless you.”

The lord smiled and said again, “O dear devotee, adhere to the principles of dharma and concentrate on the principle of Cosmic Intelligence, fix eyes on my lotus-feet and you will ascend to my abode situated even higher than the abode of seven sages. All the three worlds, the gods and the goddesses of various heavenly lands and holy spheres adore and worship my abode. After you reach the eternal abode, you will not return to the mortal world and so will live eternally.” The Supreme lord was silent and looked at the devotee.

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Lord blessed Dhruva for the genuine and severe penance. Dhruva glorified and worshipped the lord profusely and then, a very happy lord promised the child sage an abode in the divine sphere. Later on, he mounted on the divine Garuda and flew back to the supreme abode. Dhruva was very happy with the boon, thought he had achieved the objective, and adhering to the instructions of sage Narada meditated for a long period. His thirst for the divine bliss stood quenched, and the devotion fulfilled the desire to attain the unachievable but he was not satisfied and at last, he returned to the city of king father. Dhruva understood the real value of things and realised the objective of life.

He secured a place in the land of the Supreme (the lord of Maya – delusory potency), even higher than the abode of seven sages. Amazingly, he attained the holy land in a lifetime. The stepmother had hurt Dhruva’s heart deeply and after lord’s eternal boon, his heart still wandered around stepmother’s acidic utterances. He underwent terrific meditation and tapasya for a long period, shook foundations of the three worlds, attained the objective but was not very pleased with the divine attainment. However, when the Supreme lord drove out froth and dirt of the mind he regretted.

Dhruva was now, lost in deep thought. He was static and steadfast, thought he had attained a place in the land of the Supreme, just in six months merely through austere tapa and meditation. Whereas the eternal seers and the celibates Sanadana and three brothers – Sanaka, Santana and Sanatkumara, after many ages had realised the supreme bliss through the practice of abstract meditation and tapa, and enjoyed access to the asylum at His feet he thought. At the lord’s eternal blissful feet, ended the cycle of birth and death but he regretted as to why he had asked for the ephemeral and transient.

Probably even the gods of heavens did not enjoy the glimpses of the lord’s glory he attained and it perverted judgment. He knew that the gods fell and failed after enjoying the bliss of heavenly life. He did not listen to the words of truth and reality of sage Narada. He was cruel to Uttama whom he thought an enemy because of delusion. He was afraid of his image as a snake, a lion and a ghost as if in dreams but fears filled uncertain future. He was a fool to aspire for the world’s sovereignty when life’s end was near.

“O god, what a grave error did I commit?” He thought, and was distressed.

He undertook severe penance for a long time again and propitiated the great lord, who was pleased, and now the lord’s blessings ended a cycle of birth and death. He prayed for the worldly fortunes and pleasures that never cut off a man from the painful cycle of birth and death. He was deeply pained. He did not ask for the essence of one’s life in right earnest, and the thoughts deeply perturbed and hurt a sensitive mind of the sage child. However, it was over and now, in anguish, he continued the journey to the kingdom of king father.

At the lotus-feet of the lord, devotees take delight, get liberation and seek nothing else beyond the privilege of serving the Cosmic Intelligence is eternal truth. If men of the world understand properly, it ushers into a life of pleasure and joy, and worldly joys fill and invade life. To surrender in a spirit of detachment is a path to salvation. When King Uttanapada heard about the return of Dhruva, he did not believe, for none returns from the land of Yama he thought. How he, a wretched man is fortunate? Even so, he believed the celestial sage and the feelings of joy overwhelmed. He rewarded the news-giving man with a precious necklace and got up, mounted a grandly ornamented chariot even as Brahmins, the elders of the family, the courtiers, the ministers and the kinsfolk sallied forth and went with the king in majestic grandeur. Conches blew, exciting tunes of flutes thrilled and tinkled, and kettledrums sounded amidst the chanting of the Vedic hymns. King Uttanapada was immensely happy. The queens also did not lag behind as Uttama mounted a vehicle and went after the palanquins of the queens.

The king saw sage Dhruva approaching a garden and so, deeply happy and delighted, went to the child quickly, took him in arms and gave a warm embrace. He felt as if absolved of sins and worldly bondages with the gracious touch of the lord’s feet. In a deeply emotional union, a penitent king shed copious tears at the unforeseen turn of events because he had never hoped and thought of son’s return. Dhruva bowed reverentially before the elders and the conduct exhibited that the sage child had acquired sublimity and purity, comprehended the reality of life and harboured no ill feelings toward anyone.

Though the king felt guilty of injustice done, yet clean and virtuous behaviour of Dhruva showed that he was a realised soul. The queens showed tremendous affection whereas queen Suniti‘s tears continued to flow at the lord’s blessings. The lord’s blessings, benedictions and deep love suffused everyone. Dhruva and Uttama experienced thrills and excitement. Everyone was cheerful and felt relieved of agonies. The citizens predicted that the prince would become the strongest king and would govern the terrestrial world with love and authority.

Suniti heard words of praise from the noble and laudable learned men. They praised the queen, who adored the lord devotedly and truly, in the absence of child sage. Now, as the lord blessed, sufferings ended, for he was the great soul because devotion to the pure soul had conquered death. She was deeply satisfied at the turn of events.

Everyone entered the well-decorated city and appeared full of joy and celestial delight. The king had instructed the ministers to decorate the city tastefully and so, the city looked superbly adorned and fantastic when the lost prince arrived. Grandly adorned with plantain trees, arecas, bunches of fruits and blossoms, the city attracted each one. Garlands and festoons adorning the city captivated everybody. People stood in rows to greet the prince, a devotee of Vishnu. Entrance looked beautiful as jars of water signalled happy occasion while lights illumined everything brilliantly. The leaves of mango trees, pieces of cloth, and wreaths of flowers and strings of pearls decorated various prominent places along the route charmed, as people cheered and showered flowers on the prince. It was a grand scene and one appeared bewildered at the superbly beautified walls, gates and mansions decked with gold and pearls while the tops of minarets shone with divine light.

The sandal water sprinkled to purify and cleanse paths, roads, streets and attics enhanced the beauty and glamour, and the divinity seemed to register presence. Thus, the bejeweled city looked like a bride as its magnificence and grandeur dazzled. The city and people gave a majestic and unique welcome to the prince not given to anyone before. The king was happy at the attainment of glory he had heard from Narada.

At an appropriate time, the king declared Dhruva the sovereign of the world, who won respect and devotion of everyone. Afterward, the king left for the wood to contemplate on the essential character of ‘the Self.’ After immense experience, the king lost interest in worldly pleasures. Thus, Dhruva governed the globe for many years with compassion, love, justice and truth, and devotion to the great lord.

Interestingly, when one looks at the affairs of the world now, callousness and naked acquisitiveness of the rulers bereft of values, shocks and stuns. They worship the supreme god, no doubt. They go to places of gods, hold glittering Yajnas, and listen to the wonderful discourses on religions and ethics from saints enjoying state patronage. They attend to religious talk, exhibit faith in god and men of faith, bow heads but when return, forget the word of god, and fall into the vortex of passions, intolerance, greed and violent acts. The kings and rulers are images of god one learns but it is not true in contemporary context. People are agitated, hungry and impatient, and despite genuine efforts, suffer. However, the rulers live happily, a sad commentary it is but reveals a harsh truth.

About the Author:

PCK Prem (PC Katoch Of Garh-Malkher, Palampur, Himachal, A Former Academician, Civil Servant And Member Himachal Public Service Commission, Shimla), an author of more than fifty-five books, is a poet, novelist, short story writer, translator and a critic in English and Hindi. Associated with several social/ literary organizations, he has brought out eleven volumes of poetry besides six books on criticism, four books on ancient literature, two on folk tales, six novels and three collections of short fiction. In Hindi, he authored twenty novels, nine books on short fiction and a collection of poems besides critical articles, reviews and critiques published in various national and international journals and anthologies. PCK Prem - Echoing Time and Civilizations 2015 and The Spirit of Age and Ideas (in the Novels of PCK Prem) in 2016 and Kathasagar of PCK Prem are books on him.