Shloka 65
Dhruva’s Humiliation, Sunīti’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Bhakti-Yoga Instruction
राजोवाच सुतो मे बालको ब्रह्मन् स्त्रैणेनाकरुणात्मना । निर्वासित: पञ्चवर्ष: सह मात्रा महान्कवि: ॥ ६५ ॥
rājovāca suto me bālako brahman straiṇenākaruṇātmanā nirvāsitaḥ pañca-varṣaḥ saha mātrā mahān kaviḥ
The King replied: O best of brāhmaṇas, enslaved by attachment to my wife I have fallen and become merciless at heart. I have banished my five-year-old son together with his mother, though he is a great soul and a great devotee.
In this verse there are some specific words which are to be understood very carefully. The King said that since he was very much addicted to his wife, he had lost all his mercy. That is the result of becoming too affectionate toward women. The King had two wives; the first wife was Sunīti, and the second was Suruci. He was too attached to the second wife, however, so he could not behave well with Dhruva Mahārāja. That was the cause of Dhruva’s leaving home to perform austerities. Although as a father the King was affectionate toward his son, he minimized his affection for Dhruva Mahārāja because he was too much addicted to the second wife. Now he was repenting that both Dhruva Mahārāja and his mother, Sunīti, were practically banished. Dhruva Mahārāja went to the forest, and since his mother was being neglected by the King, she was therefore almost banished also. The King repented having banished his boy, for Dhruva was only five years old, and a father should not banish his wife and children or neglect their maintenance. Repentant over his neglect of both Sunīti and her son, he was morose, and his face appeared withered. According to Manu-smṛti, one should never desert his wife and children. In a case where the wife and children are disobedient and do not follow the principles of home life, they are sometimes given up. But in the case of Dhruva Mahārāja this was not applicable because Dhruva was very mannerly and obedient. Moreover, he was a great devotee. Such a person is never to be neglected, yet the King was obliged to banish him. Now he was very sorry.
FAQs
This verse states that Dhruva, only five years old, was expelled along with his mother due to the harsh influence of a cruel, woman-controlled decision-maker within the royal household.
Uttānapāda confesses the injustice done to Dhruva and Sunīti and appeals to Nārada, the great sage, in anguish and repentance over his family’s wrongdoing.
When treated unfairly, one can transform pain into purposeful spiritual practice—seeking higher shelter and guidance rather than remaining trapped in resentment.