Canto 4: Creation of the Fourth Order | Chapter 8: Dhruva Mahārāja Leaves Home for the Forest |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.8.19
ātiṣṭha tat tāta vimatsaras tvam
uktaḿ samātrāpi yad avyalīkam
ārādhayādhokṣaja-pāda-padmaḿ
yadīcchase 'dhyāsanam uttamo yathā
SYNONYMS
ātiṣṭha — just execute; tat — that; tāta — my dear son; vimatsaraḥ — without being envious; tvam — unto you; uktam — said; samātrā api — by your stepmother; yat — whatever; avyalīkam — they are all factual; ārādhaya — just begin worshiping; adhokṣaja — the Transcendence; pāda-padmam — lotus feet; yadi — if; icchase — desire; adhyāsanam — to be seated along with; uttamaḥ — your stepbrother; yathā — as much as.
TRANSLATION
My dear boy, whatever has been spoken by Suruci, your stepmother, although very harsh to hear, is factual. Therefore, if you desire at all to sit on the same throne as your stepbrother, Uttama, then give up your envious attitude and immediately try to execute the instructions of your stepmother. Without further delay, you must engage yourself in worshiping the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
PURPORT
The harsh words used by Suruci to her stepson were true because unless one is favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead one cannot achieve any success in life. Man proposes, God disposes. Sunīti, the mother of Dhruva Mahārāja, agreed with her co-wife's advice that Dhruva engage himself in the worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Indirectly, the words of Suruci were a benediction for Dhruva Mahārāja, for because of the influence of his stepmother's words, he became a great devotee.
Copyright © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness