Shloka 23
Dhruva’s Humiliation, Sunīti’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Bhakti-Yoga Instruction
नान्यं तत: पद्मपलाशलोचनाद् दु:खच्छिदं ते मृगयामि कञ्चन । यो मृग्यते हस्तगृहीतपद्मया श्रियेतरैरङ्ग विमृग्यमाणया ॥ २३ ॥
nānyaṁ tataḥ padma-palāśa-locanād duḥkha-cchidaṁ te mṛgayāmi kañcana yo mṛgyate hasta-gṛhīta-padmayā śriyetarair aṅga vimṛgyamāṇayā
Dhruva, I see no one who can cut away your sorrow except the Lord whose eyes are like lotus petals. Demigods such as Brahmā seek the favor of Lakṣmī, yet Lakṣmī herself—lotus in hand—is ever ready to serve the Supreme Lord.
Sunīti pointed out herewith that the benediction received from the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that received from the demigods are not on an equal level. Foolish persons say that no matter whom one worships one will get the same result, but actually that is not a fact. In Bhagavad-gītā it is also said that benedictions received from the demigods are all temporary and are meant for the less intelligent. In other words, because the demigods are all materialistically conditioned souls, although they are situated in very exalted positions, their benedictions cannot be permanent. Permanent benediction is spiritual benediction, since a spirit soul is eternal. It is also said in Bhagavad-gītā that only persons who have lost their intelligence go to worship the demigods. Therefore Sunīti told her son that he should not seek the mercy of the demigods, but should directly approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead to mitigate his misery.
FAQs
This verse states that only the lotus-eyed Lord (Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa) is the true duḥkha-cchid—one who cuts the root of sorrow—so Dhruva seeks no other refuge.
Dhruva emphasizes the Lord’s supreme position: even Śrī (Lakṣmī), the goddess of fortune, seeks Him, and others strive for what she naturally has—showing that the Lord is the ultimate goal beyond worldly success.
The verse advises single-pointed refuge: instead of chasing many supports, anchor the mind in devotion to the Lord as the ultimate source of relief and inner stability.