तत्त्वया नात्र कर्तव्यं दुःखं तद्वाक्यसम्भवम् ॥ १,११.
Therefore, you should not let sorrow arise in you because of those words.
राजासनं राजच्छत्रं वराश्चावरवारणाः । यस्य पुण्यानि तस्यैते मत्वैतच्छांम्य पुत्रक ॥ १,११.
The royal throne, the royal umbrella, boons, and elephants—these belong to the one whose merit is great. Understand this, my son, and be at peace.
अन्यजन्मकृतैः पुण्यैः सुरुच्या सुरुचिर्नृपः । भार्येति प्रोच्यते चान्यां मद्विधा पुण्यवर्जिता ॥ १,११.
By the merit of deeds in previous births, Suruci became the king's wife, while another like me, lacking merit, is called otherwise.
पुण्योपचयसंपन्नस्तस्याः पुत्रस्तथोत्तमः । मम पुत्रस्तथा जातः स्वल्पपुण्यो ध्रुवो भवान् ॥ १,११.
Her son, endowed with accumulated merit, is thus Uttama; my son, Dhruva, was born with little merit.
तथापि दुःखं न भवान् कर्तुमर्हसि पुत्रक । यस्य यावत्स तेनैव स्वेन तुष्यति मानवः ॥ १,११.
Even so, my child, you ought not to make yourself unhappy; a person should be content with whatever is his, as long as it lasts.
यदि ते दुःखमत्यर्थं सुरुच्या वचसाभवत् । तत्पुण्योपचये यत्नं कुरु सर्वफलप्रदे ॥ १,११.
If you have been greatly distressed by Suruci's words, then strive for the accumulation of merit, which bestows all results.
सुशीलो भव धर्मात्मा मैत्रः प्राणिहिते रतः । निम्नं यथापः प्रवणाः पात्रमायान्ति सम्पदः ॥ १,११.
Be virtuous, devoted to righteousness, friendly, and intent on the welfare of living beings; just as water flows downward, so too do riches come to one who is worthy.
ध्रुव उवाच अम्ब यत्त्वमिदं प्रात्थ प्रशमाय वचो मम । नैतद्दुर्वाचसा भिन्ने हृदये मम तिष्ठति ॥ १,११.
Dhruva said: Mother, though you have spoken these words to calm me, they do not remain in my heart, which has been wounded by harsh speech.
सोऽहं तथा यतिष्यामि यथा सर्वोत्तमोत्तमम् । स्थानं प्राप्स्याम्यशोषाणां जगतामभि पूजितम् ॥ १,११.
Therefore, I shall strive in such a way that I attain the highest and most excellent position, honored by all the worlds and never fading.
सुरुचिर्दयिता राज्ञस्तस्या जातोस्मि नोदरात् । प्रभावं पश्य मेंब त्वं वृद्धस्यापि तवोदरे ॥ १,११.
Suruci is the king's beloved, but I was not born from her womb; mother, see my power, though I was born even from your aged womb.
उत्तमः स मम भ्राता यो गर्भेण धृतस्तया । स राजासनमाप्नोतु पित्रा दत्तं तथास्तु तत् ॥ १,११.
My brother Uttama, who was carried in her womb, let him obtain the royal throne given by our father; so be it.
नान्यदत्तमभीप्स्यामि स्तानमम्ब स्वकर्मणा । इच्छामि तदहं स्थानं यत्र प्राप पिता मम ॥ १,११.
Mother, I do not desire any other position given by someone else; I wish for that place which my father attained through his own actions.
श्रीपराशर उवाच निर्जगाम गृहान्मातुरित्युक्त्वा मातरं ध्रुवः । पुराच्च निर्गम्य ततस्तद्बाह्योपवनं ययो ॥ १,११.
Śrī Parāśara said: Having thus spoken to his mother, Dhruva left the house and, going out from the city, entered the forest outside.
स ददर्श मुनींस्तत्र सप्तपूर्वागतान्ध्रुवः । कुष्माजिनोत्तरीयेषु विष्टरेषु समास्थितान् ॥ १,११.
There Dhruva saw sages who had come from seven generations before, seated on grass mats and covered with garments of bark.
स राजपुत्रस्तान्सर्वान्प्रणिपत्याभ्य भाषत । प्रश्रयावनतः सम्यगभिवादनपूर्वकम् ॥ १,११.
The prince approached all of them, bowed down, and addressed them with humility, properly offering his respects first.
ध्रुव उवाच उत्तानपादतनयं मां निबोधत सत्तमाः । जातं सुनीत्यां निर्वेदाद्युष्माकं प्राप्तमन्तिकम् ॥ १,११.
Dhruva said: O noble ones, know me as Dhruva, son of Uttānapāda, born of Sunīti, who has come to you out of disillusionment.
ऋषय ऊचुः चतुःपञ्चा ब्दसंभूतो बालस्त्वं तृपनन्दन । निर्वेदकारणं किञ्चित्तव नाद्यापि वर्तते ॥ १,११.
The sages said: O child, son of Uttānapāda, you are only four or five years old; what cause for disillusionment could there be for you at this age?
न चिन्त्यं भवतः किञ्चिद्ध्रयते भूपतिः पिता । न चैवैष्ट वियोगादि तव पश्याम बालक ॥ १,११.
There is nothing for you to worry about; your father, the king, is alive, and we do not see any separation from what you desire, O boy.
शरीरे न च ते व्याधिरस्माभिरुपलक्ष्यते । निर्वेदः किन्निमित्तस्ते कथ्यतां यदि विद्यते ॥ १,११.
Nor do we perceive any illness in your body; if there is any reason for your disillusionment, tell us, if you know.
श्रीपराशर उवाच ततः स कथयामास सुरुच्या यदुदाहृतम् । तन्निशम्य ततः प्रोचुर्मुनयस्ते परस्परम् ॥ १,११.
Śrī Parāśara said: Then he told them what had been spoken by Suruci; hearing this, the sages spoke among themselves.
अहो क्षात्रं परं तेजो बालस्यापि यदक्षमा । सपत्न्या मातुरुक्तं यद्धृदयान्नापसर्पति ॥ १,११.
Ah, what extraordinary kṣatriya energy, that even as a child he cannot endure; the words spoken by his stepmother do not depart from his heart.
भोभोः क्षत्रियदायादः निर्वेदाद्यत्त्वायाधुना । कर्तुं व्यवसितं तन्नः कथ्यतां यदि रोचते ॥ १,११.
O descendant of kṣatriyas, tell us what you have now resolved to do out of your disillusionment, if it pleases you.
यच्च कार्यं तवास्माभिः साहाय्यममितद्युते । तदुच्यतां विवक्षुस्त्वमस्माभिरुपलक्ष्यसे ॥ १,११.
O highly radiant one, whatever task you wish us to assist you with, let it be spoken; you are observed by us as desiring to speak.
ध्रुव उवाच नाह मर्थमभीप्सामि न राज्यं द्विजसत्तमाः । तत्स्थानमेकमिच्छामि भुक्तं नान्येन यत्पुरा ॥ १,११.
Dhruva said: I do not desire wealth, nor do I seek a kingdom, O best of the twice-born; I wish for a single place, one that has not been enjoyed by another before.
एतन्मे क्रियतां सम्यक्कथ्यतां प्राप्यते यथा । स्थानमग्र्यं समस्तेभ्यः स्थानेभ्यो मुनिसत्तमाः ॥ १,११.
Let this be accomplished for me properly; tell me how it may be attained—the highest place among all places, O best of sages.
मरीचिरुवाच अनाराधितगोविन्दैर्नरैः स्थानं नृपात्मज । न हि संप्राप्यते श्रेष्ठं तस्मादाराधयाच्युतम् ॥ १,११.
Marīci said: O prince, the highest place is not attained by men who have not worshipped Govinda; therefore, worship Acyuta.
अत्रिरुवाच परः पराणां पुरुषो यस्य तुष्टो जनार्दनः । संप्राप्नोत्यक्षयं स्थानमेतत्सत्यं मयोदितम् ॥ १,११.
Atri said: That supreme person, Janārdana, when pleased, grants the imperishable place to others; this truth I have spoken.
अङ्गिरा उवाच यस्यान्तः सर्वमेवेदमच्युतस्याव्ययात्मनः । तमाराधय गोविन्दं स्थानमग्र्यं यदीच्छसि ॥ १,११.
Aṅgirā said: In whom all this exists, within the imperishable soul of Acyuta—worship that Govinda if you desire the highest place.
पुलस्त्य उवाच परं ब्रह्म परं धाम योऽसौ ब्रह्म तथा परम् । तमाराध्य हरिं याति मुक्तिमप्यति दुर्लभाम् ॥ १,११.
Pulastya said: He who is the supreme Brahman, the supreme abode, who is also called the supreme Brahman—by worshipping that Hari, one attains even the most difficult liberation.
पुलह उवाच ऐन्द्रमिन्द्रः परं स्थानं यमाराध्य जगत्पतिम् । प्राप यज्ञपतिं विष्णुं तमाराधय सुव्रत ॥ १,११.
Pulaha said: Indra obtained the station of Indra by worshipping the Lord of the world, Viṣṇu, the Lord of sacrifice; O virtuous one, worship him.