Shloka 29
Dhruva’s Darśana, Transformative Prayers, and the Boon of the Dhruva-loka
Pole Star
मैत्रेय उवाच मातु: सपत्न्या वाग्बाणैर्हृदि विद्धस्तु तान् स्मरन् । नैच्छन्मुक्तिपतेर्मुक्तिं तस्मात्तापमुपेयिवान् ॥ २९ ॥
maitreya uvāca mātuḥ sapatnyā vāg-bāṇair hṛdi viddhas tu tān smaran naicchan mukti-pater muktiṁ tasmāt tāpam upeyivān
میتریہ نے کہا—سوتیلی ماں کے سخت الفاظ کے تیروں نے دھرو کے دل کو چھید دیا تھا؛ انہیں یاد کرتے ہوئے اس نے مکتی کے مالک سے بھی مکتی نہ مانگی۔ آخر میں جب بھگوان سامنے پرگٹ ہوئے تو اپنے دل کی مادی خواہشات پر وہ شرمندہ ہوا۔
This important verse has been discussed by many stalwart commentators. Why was Dhruva Mahārāja not very pleased, even after achieving the goal of life he desired? A pure devotee is always free from any kind of material desires. In the material world, one’s material desires are all most demonic; one thinks of others as one’s enemies, one thinks of revenge against one’s enemies, one aspires to become the topmost leader or topmost person in this material world, and thus one competes with all others. This has been described in the Bhagavad-gītā, Sixteenth Chapter, as asuric. A pure devotee has no demand from the Lord. His only concern is to serve the Lord sincerely and seriously, and he is not at all concerned about what will happen in the future. In the Mukunda-mālā-stotra, King Kulaśekhara, author of the book, states in his prayer: “My dear Lord, I don’t want any position of sense gratification within this material world. I simply want to engage in Your service perpetually.” Similarly, Lord Caitanya, in His Śikṣāṣṭaka, also prayed, “My Lord, I do not want any amount of material wealth, I do not want any number of materialistic followers, nor do I want any attractive wife to enjoy. The only thing I want is that I may engage life after life in Your service.” Lord Caitanya did not pray even for mukti, or liberation.
FAQs
This verse compares cruel speech to arrows that pierce the heart, showing that verbal insult can create deep inner suffering and agitation.
Because the wound of insult and the desire to respond to it overwhelmed him; his mind was absorbed in the pain and remembrance of those words rather than in the goal of liberation.
Recognize how remembrance of hurtful speech fuels distress, and redirect the mind toward sādhana—seeking shelter in the Lord rather than replaying the insult.