Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 4 · Chapter 10
मैत्रेय उवाच प्रजापतेर्दुहितरं शिशुमारस्य वै ध्रुव: । उपयेमे भ्रमिं नाम तत्सुतौ कल्पवत्सरौ ॥ १ ॥
maitreya uvaca prajapater duhitaram sisumarasya vai dhruvah upayeme bhramim nama tat-sutau kalpa-vatsarau
The great sage Maitreya said: My dear Vidura, thereafter Dhruva Maharaja married the daughter of Prajapati Sisumara, whose name was Bhrami, and two sons named Kalpa and Vatsara were born of her.
इलायामपि भार्यायां वायो: पुत्र्यां महाबल: । पुत्रमुत्कलनामानं योषिद्रत्नमजीजनत् ॥ २ ॥
ilayam api bharyayam vayoh putryam maha-balah putram utkala-namanam yosid-ratnam ajijanat
The greatly powerful Dhruva Maharaja had another wife, named Ila, who was the daughter of the demigod Vayu. By her he begot a son named Utkala and a very beautiful daughter.
उत्तमस्त्वकृतोद्वाहो मृगयायां बलीयसा । हत: पुण्यजनेनाद्रौ तन्मातास्य गतिं गता ॥ ३ ॥
uttamas tv akrtodvaho mrgayayam baliyasa hatah punya-janenadrau tan-matasya gatim gata
Dhruva Maharaja’s younger brother Uttama, who was still unmarried, once went on a hunting excursion and was killed by a powerful Yaksa in the Himalaya Mountains. Along with him, his mother, Suruci, also followed the path of her son (she died).
ध्रुवो भ्रातृवधं श्रुत्वा कोपामर्षशुचार्पित: । जैत्रं स्यन्दनमास्थाय गत: पुण्यजनालयम् ॥ ४ ॥
dhruvo bhratr-vadham srutva kopamarsa-sucarpitah jaitram syandanam asthaya gatah punya-janalayam
When Dhruva Maharaja heard of the killing of his brother Uttama by the Yaksas in the Himalaya Mountains, being overwhelmed with lamentation and anger, he got on his chariot and went out for victory over the city of the Yaksas, Alakapuri.
गत्वोदीचीं दिशं राजा रुद्रानुचरसेविताम् । ददर्श हिमवद्द्रोण्यां पुरीं गुह्यकसङ्कुलाम् ॥ ५ ॥
gatvodicim disam raja rudranucara-sevitam dadarsa himavad-dronyam purim guhyaka-sankulam
Dhruva Maharaja went to the northern direction of the Himalayan range. In a valley he saw a city full of ghostly persons who were followers of Lord Siva.
दध्मौ शङ्खं बृहद्बाहु: खं दिशश्चानुनादयन् । येनोद्विग्नदृश: क्षत्तरुपदेव्योऽत्रसन्भृशम् ॥ ६ ॥
dadhmau sankham brhad-bahuh kham disas canunadayan yenodvigna-drsah ksattar upadevyo ’trasan bhrsam
Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, as soon as Dhruva Maharaja reached Alakapuri, he immediately blew his conchshell, and the sound reverberated throughout the entire sky and in every direction. The wives of the Yaksas became very much frightened. From their eyes it was apparent that they were full of anxiety.
ततो निष्क्रम्य बलिन उपदेवमहाभटा: । असहन्तस्तन्निनादमभिपेतुरुदायुधा: ॥ ७ ॥
tato niskramya balina upadeva-maha-bhatah asahantas tan-ninadam abhipetur udayudhah
O hero Vidura, the greatly powerful heroes of the Yaksas, unable to tolerate the resounding vibration of the conchshell of Dhruva Maharaja, came forth from their city with weapons and attacked Dhruva.
स तानापततो वीर उग्रधन्वा महारथ: । एकैकं युगपत्सर्वानहन् बाणैस्त्रिभिस्त्रिभि: ॥ ८ ॥
sa tan apatato vira ugra-dhanva maha-rathah ekaikam yugapat sarvan ahan banais tribhis tribhih
Dhruva Maharaja, who was a great charioteer and certainly a great bowman also, immediately began to kill them by simultaneously discharging arrows three at a time.
ते वै ललाटलग्नैस्तैरिषुभि: सर्व एव हि । मत्वा निरस्तमात्मानमाशंसन् कर्म तस्य तत् ॥ ९ ॥
te vai lalata-lagnais tair isubhih sarva eva hi matva nirastam atmanam asamsan karma tasya tat
When the heroes of the Yaksas saw that all their heads were being thus threatened by Dhruva Maharaja, they could very easily understand their awkward position, and they concluded that they would certainly be defeated. But, as heroes, they lauded the action of Dhruva.
तेऽपि चामुममृष्यन्त: पादस्पर्शमिवोरगा: । शरैरविध्यन् युगपद् द्विगुणं प्रचिकीर्षव: ॥ १० ॥
te ’pi camum amrsyantah pada-sparsam ivoragah sarair avidhyan yugapad dvi-gunam pracikirsavah
Just like serpents, who cannot tolerate being trampled upon by anyone’s feet, the Yaksas, being intolerant of the wonderful prowess of Dhruva Maharaja, threw twice as many arrows—six from each of their soldiers—and thus they very valiantly exhibited their prowess.
तत: परिघनिस्त्रिंशै: प्रासशूलपरश्वधै: । शक्त्यृष्टिभिर्भुशुण्डीभिश्चित्रवाजै: शरैरपि ॥ ११ ॥ अभ्यवर्षन् प्रकुपिता: सरथं सहसारथिम् । इच्छन्तस्तत्प्रतीकर्तुमयुतानां त्रयोदश ॥ १२ ॥
tatah parigha-nistrimsaih prasasula-parasvadhaih sakty-rstibhir bhusundibhis citra-vajaih sarair api abhyavarsan prakupitah saratham saha-sarathim icchantas tat pratikartum ayutanam trayodasa
The Yaksa soldiers were 130,000 strong, all greatly angry and all desiring to defeat the wonderful activities of Dhruva Maharaja. With full strength they showered upon Maharaja Dhruva, along with his chariot and charioteer, various types of feathered arrows, parighas [iron bludgeons], nistrimsas [swords], prasasulas [tridents], parasvadhas [lances], saktis [pikes], rstis [spears] and bhusundi weapons.
औत्तानपादि: स तदा शस्त्रवर्षेण भूरिणा । न एवादृश्यताच्छन्न आसारेण यथा गिरि: ॥ १३ ॥
auttanapadih sa tada sastra-varsena bhurina na evadrsyatacchanna asarena yatha girih
Dhruva Maharaja was completely covered by an incessant shower of weapons, just as a mountain is covered by incessant rainfall.
हाहाकारस्तदैवासीत्सिद्धानां दिवि पश्यताम् । हतोऽयं मानव: सूर्यो मग्न: पुण्यजनार्णवे ॥ १४ ॥
haha-karas tadaivasit siddhanam divi pasyatam hato ’yam manavah suryo magnah punya-janarnave
All the Siddhas from the higher planeary systems were observing the fight from the sky, and when they saw that Dhruva Maharaja had been covered by the incessant arrows of the enemy, they roared tumultuously, The grandson of Manu, Dhruva, is now lost They cried that Dhruva Maharaja was just like the sun and that now he had set within the ocean of the Yaksas.
नदत्सु यातुधानेषु जयकाशिष्वथो मृधे । उदतिष्ठद्रथस्तस्य नीहारादिव भास्कर: ॥ १५ ॥
nadatsu yatudhanesu jaya-kasisv atho mrdhe udatisthad rathas tasya niharad iva bhaskarah
The Yaksas, being temporarily victorious, exclaimed that they had conquered Dhruva Maharaja. But in the meantime Dhruva’s chariot suddenly appeared, just as the sun suddenly appears from within foggy mist.
धनुर्विस्फूर्जयन्दिव्यं द्विषतां खेदमुद्वहन् । अस्त्रौघं व्यधमद्बाणैर्घनानीकमिवानिल: ॥ १६ ॥
dhanur visphurjayan divyam dvisatam khedam udvahan astraugham vyadhamad banair ghananikam ivanilah
Dhruva Maharaja’s bow and arrows twanged and hissed, causing lamentation in the hearts of his enemies. He began to shoot incessant arrows, shattering all their different weapons, just as the blasting wind scatters the assembled clouds in the sky.
तस्य ते चापनिर्मुक्ता भित्त्वा वर्माणि रक्षसाम् । कायानाविविशुस्तिग्मा गिरीनशनयो यथा ॥ १७ ॥
tasya te capa-nirmukta bhittva varmani raksasam kayan avivisus tigma girin asanayo yatha
The sharp arrows released from the bow of Dhruva Maharaja pierced the shields and bodies of the enemy, like the thunderbolts released by the King of heaven, which dismantle the bodies of the mountains.
भल्लै: सञ्छिद्यमानानां शिरोभिश्चारुकुण्डलै: । ऊरुभिर्हेमतालाभैर्दोर्भिर्वलयवल्गुभि: ॥ १८ ॥ हारकेयूरमुकुटैरुष्णीषैश्च महाधनै: । आस्तृतास्ता रणभुवो रेजुर्वीरमनोहरा: ॥ १९ ॥
bhallaih sanchidyamananam sirobhis caru-kundalaih urubhir hema-talabhair dorbhir valaya-valgubhih hara-keyura-mukutair usnisais ca maha-dhanaih astrtas ta rana-bhuvo rejur vira-mano-harah
The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, the heads of those who were cut to pieces by the arrows of Dhruva Maharaja were decorated very beautifully with earrings and turbans. The legs of their bodies were as beautiful as golden palm trees, their arms were decorated with golden bracelets and armlets, and on their heads there were very valuable helmets bedecked with gold. All these ornaments lying on that battlefield were very attractive and could bewilder the mind of a hero.
हतावशिष्टा इतरे रणाजिराद् रक्षोगणा: क्षत्रियवर्यसायकै: । प्रायो विवृक्णावयवा विदुद्रुवु- र्मृगेन्द्रविक्रीडितयूथपा इव ॥ २० ॥
hatavasista itare ranajirad rakso-ganah ksatriya-varya-sayakaih prayo vivrknavayava vidudruvur mrgendra-vikridita-yuthapa iva
The remaining Yaksas who somehow or other were not killed had their limbs cut to pieces by the arrows of the great warrior Dhruva Maharaja. Thus they began to flee, just as elephants flee when defeated by a lion.
अपश्यमान: स तदाततायिनं महामृधे कञ्चन मानवोत्तम: । पुरीं दिदृक्षन्नपि नाविशद्द्विषां न मायिनां वेद चिकीर्षितं जन: ॥ २१ ॥
apasyamanah sa tadatatayinam maha-mrdhe kancana manavottamah purim didrksann api navisad dvisam na mayinam veda cikirsitam janah
Dhruva Maharaja, the best of human beings, observed that in that great battlefield not one of the opposing soldiers was left standing with proper weapons.
इति ब्रुवंश्चित्ररथ: स्वसारथिं यत्त: परेषां प्रतियोगशङ्कित: । शुश्राव शब्दं जलधेरिवेरितं नभस्वतो दिक्षु रजोऽन्वदृश्यत ॥ २२ ॥
iti bruvams citra-rathah sva-sarathim yattah paresam pratiyoga-sankitah susrava sabdam jaladher iveritam nabhasvato diksu rajo ’nvadrsyata
In the meantime, while Dhruva Maharaja, doubtful of his mystic enemies, was talking with his charioteer, they heard a tremendous sound, as if the whole ocean were there, and they found that from the sky a great dust storm was coming over them from all directions.
क्षणेनाच्छादितं व्योम घनानीकेन सर्वत: । विस्फुरत्तडिता दिक्षु त्रासयत्स्तनयित्नुना ॥ २३ ॥
ksanenacchaditam vyoma ghananikena sarvatah visphurat-tadita diksu trasayat-stanayitnuna
Within a moment the whole sky was overcast with dense clouds, and severe thundering was heard. There was glittering electric lightning and severe rainfall.
ववृषू रुधिरौघासृक्पूयविण्मूत्रमेदस: । निपेतुर्गगनादस्य कबन्धान्यग्रतोऽनघ ॥ २४ ॥
vavrsu rudhiraughasrk- puya-vin-mutra-medasah nipetur gaganad asya kabandhany agrato ’nagha
My dear faultless Vidura, in that rainfall there was blood, mucus, pus, stool, urine and marrow falling heavily before Dhruva Maharaja, and there were trunks of bodies falling from the sky.
तत: खेऽदृश्यत गिरिर्निपेतु: सर्वतोदिशम् । गदापरिघनिस्त्रिंशमुसला: साश्मवर्षिण: ॥ २५ ॥
tatah khe ’drsyata girir nipetuh sarvato-disam gada-parigha-nistrimsa- musalah sasma-varsinah
Next, a great mountain was visible in the sky, and from all directions hailstones fell, along with lances, clubs, swords, iron bludgeons and great pieces of stone.
अहयोऽशनिनि:श्वासा वमन्तोऽग्निं रुषाक्षिभि: । अभ्यधावन् गजा मत्ता: सिंहव्याघ्राश्च यूथश: ॥ २६ ॥
ahayo ’sani-nihsvasa vamanto ’gnim rusaksibhih abhyadhavan gaja mattah simha-vyaghras ca yuthasah
Dhruva Maharaja also saw many big serpents with angry eyes, vomiting forth fire and coming to devour him, along with groups of mad elephants, lions and tigers.
समुद्र ऊर्मिभिर्भीम: प्लावयन् सर्वतो भुवम् । आससाद महाह्राद: कल्पान्त इव भीषण: ॥ २७ ॥
samudra urmibhir bhimah plavayan sarvato bhuvam asasada maha-hradah kalpanta iva bhisanah
Then, as if it were the time of the dissolution of the whole world, the fierce sea with foaming waves and great roaring sounds came forward before him.
एवंविधान्यनेकानि त्रासनान्यमनस्विनाम् । ससृजुस्तिग्मगतय आसुर्या माययासुरा: ॥ २८ ॥
evam-vidhany anekani trasanany amanasvinam sasrjus tigma-gataya asurya mayayasurah
The demon Yaksas are by nature very heinous, and by their demoniac power of illusion they can create many strange phenomena to frighten one who is less intelligent.
ध्रुवे प्रयुक्तामसुरैस्तां मायामतिदुस्तराम् । निशम्य तस्य मुनय: शमाशंसन् समागता: ॥ २९ ॥
dhruve prayuktam asurais tam mayam atidustaram nisamya tasya munayah sam asamsan samagatah
When the great sages heard that Dhruva Maharaja was overpowered by the illusory mystic tricks of the demons, they immediately assembled to offer him auspicious encouragement.
मुनय ऊचु: औत्तानपाद भगवांस्तव शार्ङ्गधन्वा देव: क्षिणोत्ववनतार्तिहरो विपक्षान् । यन्नामधेयमभिधाय निशम्य चाद्धा लोकोऽञ्जसा तरति दुस्तरमङ्ग मृत्युम् ॥ ३० ॥
munaya ucuh auttanapada bhagavams tava sarngadhanva devah ksinotv avanatarti-haro vipaksan yan-namadheyam abhidhaya nisamya caddha loko ’njasa tarati dustaram anga mrtyum
All the sages said: Dear Dhruva, O son of King Uttanapada, may the Supreme Personality of Godhead known as Sarngadhanva, who relieves the distresses of His devotees, kill all your threatening enemies. The holy name of the Lord is as powerful as the Lord Himself. Therefore, simply by chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord, many men can be fully protected from fierce death without difficulty. Thus a devotee is saved.
