When Dhruva, still a young boy, heard his mother’s words, his heart was resolute and pure. “Let my brother Uttama, who was carried in your womb, receive the royal throne as given by our father,” he said to her. “So be it. But as for me, Mother, I do not wish for any position granted by another. I only desire that place which my father attained through his own actions.” Having spoken thus, Dhruva left his mother’s house. He departed from the city and entered the quiet solitude of the forest beyond. There, amidst the trees, he beheld a gathering of ancient sages—men who had lived for seven generations. They sat on mats of grass, clothed in simple garments of bark, their presence serene and noble. Dhruva approached these venerable seers with great humility. He bowed deeply and addressed them with respect, introducing himself: “O noble ones, I am Dhruva, son of Uttānapāda and Sunīti. I have come to you, weighed down by disillusionment.” The sages looked upon the boy with gentle wonder. “Child,” they said, “you are only four or five years old. What cause for disillusionment could there be at such an age? Your father, the king, still lives, and we see no obstacle to your desires. Nor do we perceive any illness in your body. If there is some reason for your sorrow, tell us, if you know.” Dhruva then recounted to them all that his stepmother Suruci had spoken to him. The sages murmured among themselves, moved by the depth of the child’s spirit. “Ah, what extraordinary kṣatriya energy!” they exclaimed. “Even as a child, he cannot endure such words; his stepmother’s harshness does not leave his heart.” They turned to Dhruva and asked, “O descendant of kṣatriyas, tell us what you now intend to do, if you wish. O radiant one, whatever help you desire from us, speak it; we see that you long to share your purpose.” Dhruva replied, “O best of the twice-born, I do not desire wealth or kingdom. I wish for a single place—one that no one has enjoyed before me. Please tell me how I may attain the highest place among all places, O best of sages.” Marīci, foremost among the sages, answered, “O prince, the highest place is not attained by those who have not worshipped Govinda. Therefore, worship Acyuta.” Atri added, “That Supreme Person, Janārdana, when pleased, grants the imperishable place. This is truth.” Aṅgirā spoke: “In whom all this exists, within the imperishable soul of Acyuta—worship that Govinda if you desire the highest place.” Pulastya declared, “He who is the Supreme Brahman, the supreme abode, is also called the Supreme Brahman—by worshipping Hari, one attains even the most difficult liberation.” Pulaha said, “Indra obtained his station by worshipping Viṣṇu, the Lord of sacrifice; O virtuous one, worship him.” Kratu explained, “He who is the person of sacrifice, the sacrifice itself, the supreme lord of yoga—when Janārdana is pleased, what is there that cannot be obtained?” And Vasiṣṭha assured him, “Whatever place within the three worlds you desire, you will attain by worshipping Viṣṇu—what more, O best of sons?” Dhruva, his heart filled with devotion, asked, “You have described to me the god to be worshipped. Tell me, what should I recite to fully please him? And how should I worship that great soul, so that he may show me his gracious, smiling face?” The sages replied, “O prince, you are worthy to hear from us how Viṣṇu should be worshipped by those devoted to him. First, one should turn the mind away from all external objects and make it steady in the very abode of the universe. Then, with one-pointed mind and self-control, let him recite what we declare.” They taught him this mantra: “To him who is the form of Hiraṇyagarbha, the Person, Pradhāna, and the unmanifest: Om, homage to Vāsudeva, whose nature is pure knowledge.” They explained, “This very mantra was recited by Manu Svāyambhuva, your ancestor. Janārdana was pleased with him and granted him the highest accomplishment, difficult to attain even in the three worlds. In the same way, you too should please Govinda by always reciting this.” Having heard all this in full, Dhruva bowed to the sages and departed from the forest, feeling he had fulfilled his duty. He journeyed to the sacred place called Madhu, on the banks of the Yamunā, a land once ruled by the demon Madhu and known as Madhuvana. There, after the demon Lavaṇa, son of Madhu, was slain by Śatrughna, the city of Mathurā was established. In that holy place, which removes all sins and where the Lord Hari is ever present, Dhruva began his austerities. Guided by the instructions of the sages led by Marīci, he meditated on Viṣṇu, the Lord of gods, as present within himself. With undistracted mind, he fixed his whole being on the blessed Hari. As he meditated, the Lord became manifest to him in all beings and in every form. So deep was Dhruva’s concentration that when Viṣṇu was thus established in his mind, the very earth, bearer of all creatures, could no longer bear her burden. When Dhruva stood on his left foot, the earth bent under half her weight; when he shifted to his right, the other half bent down. And as he pressed the earth with his big toe, the entire earth, along with her mountains, began to tremble.