Dhruva tara?

By KK Shanmukhan?

King Uttanapada had two wives. Suniti and Suruchi. The king had one son from each wife. Dhruva who was born of Suniti was older. Suruchi was younger and more beautiful and therefore wielded more influence over the king.

The two wives always fought on their respective rights over the king. Suruchi used to win all the time. The king did not intervene  due to fear of his second  wife.

Whenever Dhruva came to his father Suniti warded him off. One day as he was sitting on the lap of the king, Suruchi happened to come there and pulled him down saying that the king’s lap was meant for her son to occupy. Dhruva could not contain his grief. Sitting  in isolation,  he started crying. Narada, the great saint happened to come there. He saw child Dhruva’s  plight. The saint advised him to contemplate on Lord Vishnu with mind and senses focused totally.

Restraining from the outer world and absorbing totally, Dhruva contemplated on the Lord, who manifested quickly and blessed him. With Lord Vishnu’s caressing Dhruva became a star i.e. tara in the sky which shines the brightest ever.It is also called  North Star.