The Penance of the Boy Dhruv

King Uttanapada had two queens, Suniti and Suruchi. The king loved the younger queen Suruchi and her son Uttam more. One day Uttam was sitting on his father's lap. Suniti's son Dhruv wanted to sit there too. But Suruchi scolded him: if you want your father's lap, do penance to the Lord and be born from my womb.

Five-year-old Dhruv ran crying to his mother. Though she was hurt, Suniti spoke ill of no one. She said: my son, do not wish anyone harm. If you want true shelter, take refuge in Lord Vishnu. He is the father of all. Dhruv set out for the forest that very moment.

On the way he met Narad, who tested the boy: you are too young; go home, penance is very hard. But Dhruv's resolve did not move. Then Narad told him to go to Madhuvan on the Yamuna and taught him the twelve-syllable mantra: Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.

Dhruv began a severe penance. In the first month he ate fruit, then only leaves, then only water, and then he lived on air alone. In the fifth month he stood on one foot, meditating on the Lord. It is said that when he held his breath, the breath of all three worlds began to stop.

Then Lord Vishnu appeared, riding on Garuda. The boy did not know how to pray, so the Lord touched his cheek with His conch, and a beautiful hymn flowed from Dhruv's lips. The Lord gave him a long reign and, at the end, a realm that never moves. The Pole Star, Dhruv Tara, still reminds us of him. Dhruv later said that asking the Lord for a kingdom had been foolish.