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Kids? org Dhruva, the brightest star By Manju Gupta DHRUVA was the son of King Uttampad and his elder queen, Suniti. Uttam was the second son of King Uttampad from his second wife, Queen Suruchi. One day, as Uttam sat on his father?s lap, Dhruva came and said he too wanted to sit like Uttam on his father?s lap. Queen Suruchi who was seated close by, did not like this and scolded him, ?Go away Dhruva. Can?t you see that Uttam is seated there, how can you too sit on the king?s lap?? Dhruva was deeply hurt. So he went to his mother and told her about what had happened. Queen Suniti consoled her son, saying, ?Never mind. If Queen Suruchi has scolded you, do not be upset. After all, she is your mother too. A mother can scold her son if she does not approve of something.? Dhruva was not the one to be satisfied easily, so he asked, ?Mother, is there anyone in his world who is greater than a father?? Queen Suniti replied, ?Yes, my son. Lord Vishnu, who is the father of all the fathers in this world, is greater than your father.? Dhruva was pleased and said, ?Then I?ll go and sit on his lap. But tell me mother, where can I find him?? Queen Suniti, unable to gauge the serious intentions of her son, replied carelessly to put a stop to his queries, ?He lives in the forest. You will find him there.? Dhruva said, ?Then I shall go and search him out in the forest.? Dhruva left for the forest and walked and walked till he came across Narada Muni. Dhruva asked him, ?Have you seen where Lord Vishnu lives? How can I meet him? Can you tell me what I should do and where I should go?? Narada Muni told him, ?Do penance by reciting the words, Om namo bhagwate Vamadeva. Maybe, Lord Vishnu will appear before you on hearing your prayers.? Dhruva was pleased with Narada Muni?s words and sat down to pray. Initially he prayed and lived by eating herbs and fruits once in three days. He later ate only once in nine days. As days passed, he gave up food also and his penance became tougher and tougher as he continued to pray. Seeing his devotion, Lord Vishnu was so moved that he appeared before Dhruva to ask, ?What is it, son, that you want?? Dhruva was happy to see Lord Vishnu before him and with folded hands said, ?The fact that you have appeared before me is more than enough. What more can I want?? Lord Vishnu was very pleased with the reply and said, ?I am happy with your devotion and worship of me. I hereby grant you a boon?you will become a star after death and you will guide travellers on which route to take to reach their destination.? Dhruva returned to his parents and lived happily with his parents. As years went by, he grew old. One day he died and soon after death, he became the Dhruva star that we see in the sky as the brightest star.

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