This is the legend of Dhruva, the child man who became a symbol of justice, equality and rights.
जाया बभूव सुरुचिर्नितरामभीष्टा ।
अन्या सुनीतिरिति भर्तुरनादृता सा
त्वामेव नित्यमगति: शरणं गताऽभूत् ॥१॥
अङ्के पितु: सुरुचिपुत्रकमुत्तमं तं
दृष्ट्वा ध्रुव: किल सुनीतिसुतोऽधिरोक्ष्यन् ।
आचिक्षिपे किल शिशु: सुतरां सुरुच्या
दुस्सन्त्यजा खलु भवद्विमुखैरसूया ॥२॥
त्वन्मोहिते पितरि पश्यति दारवश्ये
दूरं दुरुक्तिनिहत: स गतो निजाम्बाम् ।
साऽपि स्वकर्मगतिसन्तरणाय पुंसां
त्वत्पादमेव शरणं शिशवे शशंस ॥३॥
मानी निरेत्य नगरात् किल पञ्चवर्ष: ।
सन्दृष्टनारदनिवेदितमन्त्रमार्ग-
स्त्वामारराध तपसा मधुकाननान्ते ॥४॥
श्रीनारदेन परिसान्त्वितचित्तवृत्तौ ।
बालस्त्वदर्पितमना: क्रमवर्धितेन
निन्ये कठोरतपसा किल पञ्चमासान् ॥५॥
तावत्तपोबलनिरुच्छ्-वसिते दिगन्ते
देवार्थितस्त्वमुदयत्करुणार्द्रचेता: ।
त्वद्रूपचिद्रसनिलीनमते: पुरस्ता-
दाविर्बभूविथ विभो गरुडाधिरूढ: ॥६॥
दृग्भ्यां निमग्नमिव रूपरसायने ते ।
तुष्टूषमाणमवगम्य कपोलदेशे
संस्पृष्टवानसि दरेण तथाऽऽदरेण ॥७॥
Dasakam: 017 -- Shlokam: 08तावद्विबोधविमलं प्रणुवन्तमेन-
माभाषथास्त्वमवगम्य तदीयभावम् ।
राज्यं चिरं समनुभूय भजस्व भूय:
सर्वोत्तरं ध्रुव पदं विनिवृत्तिहीनम् ॥८॥
वानन्दिताखिलजनो नगरीमुपेत: ।
रेमे चिरं भवदनुग्रहपूर्णकाम-
स्ताते गते च वनमादृतराज्यभार: ॥९॥
यक्षै: स युद्धनिरतो विरतो मनूक्त्या ।
शान्त्या प्रसन्नहृदयाद्धनदादुपेता-
त्त्वद्भक्तिमेव सुदृढामवृणोन्महात्मा ॥१०॥
मात्रा समं ध्रुवपदे मुदितोऽयमास्ते ।
एवं स्वभृत्यजनपालनलोलधीस्त्वं
वातालयाधिप निरुन्धि ममामयौघान् ॥११॥
Dasakam: 017 -- Shlokam: 01
उत्तानपादनृपतेर्मनुनन्दनस्यजाया बभूव सुरुचिर्नितरामभीष्टा ।
अन्या सुनीतिरिति भर्तुरनादृता सा
त्वामेव नित्यमगति: शरणं गताऽभूत् ॥१॥
uttaanapaada nR^ipatermanunandanasya
jaayaa babhuuva suruchirnitaraamabhiiShTaa |
anyaa suniitiriti bharturanaadR^itaa saa
tvaameva nityamagatiH sharaNaM gataa(a)bhuut ||
jaayaa babhuuva suruchirnitaraamabhiiShTaa |
anyaa suniitiriti bharturanaadR^itaa saa
tvaameva nityamagatiH sharaNaM gataa(a)bhuut ||
King Uttanapada, the son of Swayambhuva Manu, had two wives, by name Suruchiand Suneethi. The king was very fond of Suruchi but ignored by her husband, .Suneethi altogether.Having no other support, was helpless. Suneethi took refuge in Thee alone.
Dasakam: 017 -- Shlokam: 02अङ्के पितु: सुरुचिपुत्रकमुत्तमं तं
दृष्ट्वा ध्रुव: किल सुनीतिसुतोऽधिरोक्ष्यन् ।
आचिक्षिपे किल शिशु: सुतरां सुरुच्या
दुस्सन्त्यजा खलु भवद्विमुखैरसूया ॥२॥
anke pituH suruchiputrakamuttamaM taM
dR^iShTvaa dhruvaH kila suniitisutO(a)dhirOkshyan |
aachikshipe kila shishuH sutaraaM suruchyaa
dussantyajaa khalu bhavadvimukhairasuuyaa || 2
Once when Uttama, son of Suruchi, was sitting on his father's lap, Dhruva, son ofSuneethi, wished to do the same but was stopped by Suruchi, who scolded himharshly. Oh Guruvayurappa ! Those who have no devotion to Thee are indeed veryjealous at heart.
Dasakam: 017 -- Shlokam: 03त्वन्मोहिते पितरि पश्यति दारवश्ये
दूरं दुरुक्तिनिहत: स गतो निजाम्बाम् ।
साऽपि स्वकर्मगतिसन्तरणाय पुंसां
त्वत्पादमेव शरणं शिशवे शशंस ॥३॥
tvanmOhite pitari pashyati daaravashye
duuraM duruktinihataH sa gatO nijaambaam |
saa(a)pi svakarmagatisantaraNaaya pumsaaM
tvatpaadameva sharaNaM shishave shashamsa || 3
The hen-pecked king who was blinded by his infatuation for Suruchi silently looked on the cruel treatment meted out by her to the boy. . Deeply wounded at heart, Dhruva then went to his own mother Suneeti. She consoled the child and advised him that the only way to overcome the evils of one’s own past actions is to seek shelter at Thy feet.
Dasakam: 017 -- Shlokam: 04मानी निरेत्य नगरात् किल पञ्चवर्ष: ।
सन्दृष्टनारदनिवेदितमन्त्रमार्ग-
स्त्वामारराध तपसा मधुकाननान्ते ॥४॥
aakarNya sO(a)pi bhavadarchananishchitaatmaa
maanii niretya nagaraat kila pa~nchavarShaH |
sandR^iShTanaaradaniveditamantramaargastvaamaararaadha
tapasaa madhukaananaante || 4
Following his mother's advice the self respecting Dhruva, who was only five years of age, , became determined to worship Thee, and so left the town. . ,Sage Narada, whom he met onthe way realised the strength of Dhruva’s determination taught him the method of worshipping Thee by reciting Mantras. With thatknowledge, he proceeded to the forest, Madhuvana, to do penance.
Dasakam: 017 -- Shlokam: 05श्रीनारदेन परिसान्त्वितचित्तवृत्तौ ।
बालस्त्वदर्पितमना: क्रमवर्धितेन
निन्ये कठोरतपसा किल पञ्चमासान् ॥५॥
taate viShaNNahR^idaye nagariiM gatena
shriinaaradena parisaanitvatachittavR^ittau |
baalastvadarpitamanaaH kramavardhitena
ninye kaThOratapasaa kila pa~nchamaasaan || 5
King Uttanapada, who was grieving at heart, after Dhruva's departure to the forest wasconsoled by Narada, who came to the palace. Meanwhile the boy with his mind fullydedicated to Thee spent five months in severe penance, with increasing intensity.
Dasakam: 017 -- Shlokam: 06तावत्तपोबलनिरुच्छ्-वसिते दिगन्ते
देवार्थितस्त्वमुदयत्करुणार्द्रचेता: ।
त्वद्रूपचिद्रसनिलीनमते: पुरस्ता-
दाविर्बभूविथ विभो गरुडाधिरूढ: ॥६॥
taavattapObalaniruchChvasite digante
devaarthitastvamudayatkaruNaardrachetaaH |
tvadruupachidrasaniliinamateH purastaadaavirbabhuuvitha
vibhO garuDaadhiruuDhaH || 6
Then, when all around in all the directions there was suffocation by the power of Dhruva's penance, the devas were seeking relief. The gods prayed to Thee to save them. So, with Thy heart overflowing with mercy, Thou appeared, seated on Garuda, before Dhruva, , whose heart was fully immersed in Thy divine ecstatic form.
Dasakam: 017 -- Shlokam: 07
दृग्भ्यां निमग्नमिव रूपरसायने ते ।
तुष्टूषमाणमवगम्य कपोलदेशे
संस्पृष्टवानसि दरेण तथाऽऽदरेण ॥७॥
tvaddarshanapramadabhaaratarangitaM taM
dR^igbhyaaM nimagnamiva ruuparasaayane te |
tuShTuuShamaaNamavagamya kapOladeshe
samspR^iShTavaanasi dareNa tathaa(a)dareNa || 7
Thy divine appearance Dhruva was completely overwhelmed Dhruva's hear filled t with waves of ecstasy. . As his eyes Deeply submergedin the nectar of Thy form, he was kindled with the desire to praise Thee. Knowing hisdesire Realising his incapability of finding words, Thou gently caressed his cheek, with Thy conch
माभाषथास्त्वमवगम्य तदीयभावम् ।
राज्यं चिरं समनुभूय भजस्व भूय:
सर्वोत्तरं ध्रुव पदं विनिवृत्तिहीनम् ॥८॥
taavadvibOdhavimalaMpraNuvantamenamaabhaaShathaastvamavagamya tadiiyabhaavam |
raajyaM chiraM samanubhuuya bhajasva bhuuyaH
sarvOttaraM dhruva padaM vinivR^ittihiinam || 8
Then Dhruva, with his mind, purified and enlightened by Thy divine touch He then sang Thy praise profusely, having been purified and enlightened by pure knowledge. Knowing what he had in mind, Thou blessed him to enjoy the kingdom for long and Thou then granted him the boon of attaining the highest abode, theDhruvapadam, from which there would be no return to the nether regions or where there is no return to lower states.
Dasakam: 017 -- Shlokam: 09वानन्दिताखिलजनो नगरीमुपेत: ।
रेमे चिरं भवदनुग्रहपूर्णकाम-
स्ताते गते च वनमादृतराज्यभार: ॥९॥
ityuuchiShitvayigatenR^ipanandanO(a)saa
vaananditaakhilajanO nagariimupetaH |reme
chiraM bhavadanugrahapuurNakaamastaate
gate cha vanamaadR^itaraajyabhaaraH ||
When Thou disappeared after having said so, this prince Dhruva came back to town delighting all people. When his father had gone to the forest, taking over the administration of the kingdom, with all his aspirations fulfilled by Thy grace, he lived happily for a long time.
Dasakam: 017 -- Shlokam: 10यक्षै: स युद्धनिरतो विरतो मनूक्त्या ।
शान्त्या प्रसन्नहृदयाद्धनदादुपेता-
त्त्वद्भक्तिमेव सुदृढामवृणोन्महात्मा ॥१०॥
yaksheNa deva nihate punaruttame(a)smin
yakshaiH sa yuddhaniratO viratO manuuktyaa |
shaantyaa prasannahR^idayaaddhanadaadupetaattvadbhaktimeva
sudR^iDhaamavR^iNOnmahaatmaa || 10
Oh Guruvayurappa ! Once when Dhruva's brother, Uttama, was killed by a Yaksha, hewas determined to wage war against the Yakshas, but in compliance with the requestof Swayambhuva Manu, Dhruva withdrew from the war. Kubera, the king of theYakshas, being pleased with Dhruva's forbearance, granted him a boon, but the large heartedDhruva, asked only for the boon of firm devotion to Thee.
Dasakam: 017 -- Shlokam: 11मात्रा समं ध्रुवपदे मुदितोऽयमास्ते ।
एवं स्वभृत्यजनपालनलोलधीस्त्वं
वातालयाधिप निरुन्धि ममामयौघान् ॥११॥
ante bhavatpuruShaniitavimaanayaatO
maatraa samaM dhruvapade muditO(a)yamaaste |
evaM svabhR^ityajanapaalanalOladhiistvaM
vaataalayaadhipa nirundhi mamaamayaughaan ||
Finally, leaving along with his mother in the celestial car brought by Thy attendents, he is even now living happily in Dhruvaloka. O Lord of Guruvaayur! Who are ever intent on protecting Thy devotees, cure my hoards of ailments
