Shloka 24
Dhruva’s Darśana, Transformative Prayers, and the Boon of the Dhruva-loka
Pole Star
इष्ट्वा मां यज्ञहृदयं यज्ञै: पुष्कलदक्षिणै: । भुक्त्वा चेहाशिष: सत्या अन्ते मां संस्मरिष्यसि ॥ २४ ॥
iṣṭvā māṁ yajña-hṛdayaṁ yajñaiḥ puṣkala-dakṣiṇaiḥ bhuktvā cehāśiṣaḥ satyā ante māṁ saṁsmariṣyasi
أنا قلبُ جميع القرابين والطقوس. ستستطيع أن تُقيم يَجْناتٍ عظيمة كثيرة مع عطايا ودَكْشِنا وافرة، فتعبدني. وهكذا تنال في هذه الحياة بركاتٍ صادقة من السعادة، وعند النهاية ستقدر أن تذكرني.
The most important factor in this verse is the Lord’s instructions regarding how to remember the Supreme Personality of Godhead at the end of life. Ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ: the result of whatever we do in executing spiritual activities is successful if we can remember Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This program of constant remembrance can be disturbed by many things, but Dhruva Mahārāja’s life would be so pure, as assured by the Lord Himself, that Dhruva would never forget Him. Thus at the time of his death he would remember the Supreme Lord, and before his death he would enjoy this material world, not by sense gratification, but by performing great sacrifices. As stated in the Vedas, when one performs great sacrifices he must give charity, not only to the brāhmaṇas, but also to the kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras. It is assured here that Dhruva Mahārāja would be able to perform such activities. In this Age of Kali, however, the great sacrifice is the performance of saṅkīrtana-yajña. Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is designed to teach people (and to learn ourselves) the exact instruction of the Personality of Godhead. In this way we shall continuously perform the saṅkīrtana-yajña and continuously chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Then at the end of our lives we shall certainly be able to remember Kṛṣṇa, and our program of life will be successful. In this age, distribution of prasāda has replaced distribution of money. No one has sufficient money to distribute, but if we distribute kṛṣṇa-prasāda as far as possible, this is more valuable than the distribution of money.
FAQs
This verse states that Vishnu is the very essence (heart) of yajña; when sacrifices are performed with proper charity (dakṣiṇā), the worshiper receives genuine blessings in life and ultimately remembers the Lord at the end.
After Dhruva’s intense devotion and the Lord’s appearance, Vishnu instructed him how to live as a righteous king—performing sacrifices with generosity—so that his worldly duties would culminate in remembrance of the Lord.
Live a disciplined, devotional life—offer your work as worship, practice generosity, and cultivate daily remembrance—so that the mind naturally turns to Hari at life’s final moment.