From you, O Lord, arose the cows, the very embodiment of strength, and from you came forth the birds that fill the skies and the wild animals that roam the earth. Out of your mouth were born the Brahmins, the wise and learned; from your arms sprang the Kshatriyas, the valiant protectors of the world. Your thighs gave rise to the Vaishyas, those who sustain society through their trades, and from your feet emerged the Shudras, who serve all. The sun shines forth from your eyes, the wind moves by your breath, and the moon is born from your mind. From your breath originated the vital airs that sustain all life, and from your mouth arose the sacred fire. The vast sky emerged from your navel, and from your head, the heavens were formed. The directions themselves came into being from your ears, and the earth was shaped from your feet. Truly, everything in existence has its origin in you. Just as the mighty banyan tree is hidden within a tiny seed, so too does the entire universe, in its potential, rest within you, restrained and contained. And as the banyan sprouts and expands from that seed, so does the universe unfold and grow from you at the moment of creation. Like the plantain tree, where no part is found apart from its sheaths and leaves, so too, steadfast Lord, is there nothing in the universe apart from you—all is your own form. Within you, all powers—delight, cohesion, consciousness—are united and present in all beings. Pleasure and pain, and their mingling, exist within you, who are ever free from all qualities. Homage to you, who are both one and many, the very essence of all that exists. Homage to you, the soul of all, the inexhaustible source of every being. All that is manifest, the primal matter and spirit, the Virat, Samrat, and Svarat—all these are perceived within the mind, yet you alone are the imperishable one present in all beings. You are the essence in every form, bearing all shapes; all creation comes from you and returns to you. I bow to you, the soul of all. You are the self within every being, the Lord abiding in all. What more could I say to you, who know all that is hidden in the heart? O Soul of all, Lord of all beings, source of every living creature, you dwell within all and know the desires of every heart. O Lord, the wish I cherished has been fulfilled by your grace. My austerity has borne fruit, for I have seen you, the Lord of the universe. The Blessed Lord spoke: “Dhruva, the fruit of your austerity is that you have beheld me. For, O prince, the vision of me is never without reward. Therefore, ask for any boon you desire; for one who has come within my sight, nothing is impossible.” Dhruva replied: “O Lord, ruler of past and future, you dwell in the heart of all. What is there in my mind that is unknown to you, O divine one? Still, O Lord of the gods, I will speak what my unworthy and misguided heart desires, though it is exceedingly difficult to obtain. For what could be unattainable, O creator of all, when you are pleased? Even Indra, king of the gods, enjoys the fruits of your favor. My stepmother once declared, in a voice filled with pride, that this royal seat is not fit for one not born from her womb. Therefore, O Lord, I seek from you an imperishable place, the highest of all, the very support of the universe, through your grace.” The Blessed Lord replied: “The place you seek, you shall indeed obtain. You pleased me before, O child, in a previous birth. You were once a son of Brahma, ever devoted to me with single-mindedness, serving your parents faithfully and upholding your duty. In time, a prince became your friend—a youth radiant in form, enjoying all pleasures. Seeing his extraordinary prosperity, you wished, ‘May I too become a prince.’ Thus, as you desired, you were born in the house of Uttānapāda, attaining a position in the lineage of Svāyambhuva that is difficult for others to reach. Moreover, O child, whoever worships me, as you did in your former birth, attains liberation without delay. For one whose mind is fixed on me, what need is there for heaven or any such state? By my grace, you shall obtain a place above the three worlds, the abode of all stars and planets, Dhruva—there is no doubt. From the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and all the stars—Dhruva stands among them. Above all the sages and the celestial gods who travel the sky, your place has been granted by me, Dhruva. Some gods last for a cycle of four ages, some for a Manvantara; but your position, which I give to you, endures for the entire Kalpa. Your mother Sunīti, pure and ever near you, will become a star in a celestial chariot and dwell there for that time. Those humans who, with focused minds, praise you morning and evening, will attain great merit.” Śrī Parāśara continued: Thus, having received this boon from Janārdana, the Lord of the Universe, Dhruva, wise and steadfast, took his place at the center of all. By his service to his parents, the greatness of the twelve-syllable mantra, and the power of his austerity, he attained this immortal position. Seeing Dhruva’s pride, prosperity, and greatness, Uśanas, teacher of gods and demons, declared: “Ah, the strength of his austerity! Ah, the fruit of his austerity! Because of it, the seven sages stand before Dhruva. This is Dhruva’s mother, Sunīti, virtuous and gentle—who on earth can describe her greatness?