Shloka 3
सुनीतिर् नाम या राज्ञस् तस्याभून् महिषी द्विज स नातिप्रीतिमांस् तस्यां तस्याश् चाभूद् ध्रुवः सुतः
sunītir nāma yā rājñas tasyābhūn mahiṣī dvija sa nātiprītimāṃs tasyāṃ tasyāś cābhūd dhruvaḥ sutaḥ
O brāhmaṇa, the king had a queen named Sunīti, yet he was not greatly attached to her. From her was born a son—Dhruva.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Narration of Dhruva’s origin and the causes leading to his resolve for tapas and divine vision.
Teaching: Historical
Quality: authoritative
Key Kings: Dhruva, Sunīti
FAQs
This verse introduces Sunīti as Dhruva’s mother, establishing the maternal lineage that frames Dhruva’s later turn toward unwavering devotion and spiritual ascent.
Parāśara presents Dhruva’s birth as a dynastic fact within the king’s household, noting the king’s limited affection toward Sunīti—an early narrative condition that foreshadows Dhruva’s later trials.
Though Vishnu is not named here, the Purana’s genealogy is structured to culminate in exemplary devotees; Dhruva’s very introduction functions as the opening of a bhakti-centered arc where Vishnu becomes the supreme refuge and goal.