Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 8
Bhagavān’s Avatāras, Their Protections (Poṣaṇa), and the Limits of Knowing Him
विद्ध: सपत्न्युदितपत्रिभिरन्ति राज्ञो बालोऽपि सन्नुपगतस्तपसे वनानि । तस्मा अदाद् ध्रुवगतिं गृणते प्रसन्नो दिव्या: स्तुवन्ति मुनयो यदुपर्यधस्तात् ॥ ८ ॥
viddhaḥ sapatny-udita-patribhir anti rājño bālo ’pi sann upagatas tapase vanāni tasmā adād dhruva-gatiṁ gṛṇate prasanno divyāḥ stuvanti munayo yad upary-adhastāt
Stung by the sharp words of the king’s co-wife, even in the king’s presence, Prince Dhruva—though only a child—went to the forest for severe austerities. Pleased by his prayer, the Lord granted him the abode of Dhruva, Dhruvaloka, which great sages above and below revere and glorify.
When he was only five years old, Prince Dhruva, a great devotee and the son of Mahārāja Uttānapāda, was sitting on the lap of his father. His stepmother did not like the King’s patting her stepson, so she dragged him out, saying that he could not claim to sit on the lap of the King because he was not born out of her womb. The little boy felt insulted by this act of his stepmother. Nor did his father make any protest, for he was too attached to his second wife. After this incident, Prince Dhruva went to his own mother and complained. His real mother also could not take any step against this insulting behavior, and so she wept. The boy inquired from his mother how he could sit on the royal throne of his father, and the poor queen replied that only the Lord could help him. The boy inquired where the Lord could be seen, and the queen replied that it is said that the Lord is sometimes seen by great sages in the dense forest. The child prince decided to go into the forest to perform severe penances in order to achieve his objective.
FAQs
This verse says Dhruva, though a child hurt by his stepmother’s cruel words, went to the forest for austerity, and the Lord—pleased by his sincere glorification—granted him the celebrated, steadfast destination known as Dhruva’s abode (Dhruvaloka).
He was deeply wounded by the sharp, humiliating words spoken in the king’s household, yet he became resolute and went to the forest to perform tapasya and seek the Lord’s shelter.
Instead of being broken by insult or rejection, channel the pain into disciplined spiritual practice—steady prayer, sincere glorification of God, and focused effort—trusting that genuine devotion brings lasting inner and divine support.