“Although Dhruva Maharaja was only a five-year-old boy, he underwent severe austerities by eating simply dry foliage, drinking only water and taking no food. In this way, after six months, he was able to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face. When he saw the Lord, he forgot all his austerities and said, svamin kritartho’smi: ‘My dear Lord, I am very pleased.’” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 4.30.4 Purport)

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“Let me ask you something. Have you ever been wronged? Cheated? Swindled? Has the culprit then taunted you, after the fact? Do they know they cheated you and proceed to rub it in your face? Do they almost dare you to do something about it, knowing that you are helpless? I am sure this is not a difficult circumstance to relate to. Hasn’t this happened to all of us, at some point or another?

“Now, imagine that you developed a determination to get even. A strong vow, where you are aware of some sort of method of retribution. Mind you, the path is not easy to traverse. The revenge will not arrive as soon as you think of it. This is not like the kama-rupa-siddhi described in Sanskrit texts. You have to work for your revenge. You have to reach a specific destination.

“Let’s say that you make it to the finish line. There you are, in the driver’s seat. You have all the power. You can get back at the person who wronged you. This will be the sweetest moment. It is one you have long awaited. The dream can finally become a reality.

“Given that hypothetical, would you ever think of relenting? Would it even cross your mind to let go of the rivalry? It makes no sense. You worked so hard to get the revenge. All you have to do now is execute. It is as simple as pushing a button. Why, then, would someone like Dhruva Maharaja change his mind?

“He is only a small child at the time, but just see his austerity. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada describes that Dhruva ate only dry foliage and drank water. This was the embodiment of yoga practice, in the strictest definition. After six months, Dhruva met the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Not only did Dhruva have the potential for revenge, but he could ask for anything he wanted. Instead, he responded with the equivalent of, ‘Nah, I’m good.’”

This is the emphasis of the acharyas, of saintly people, of those aligned with God the person through the manner of devotional connection. They say that whatever it is you want, in whatever circumstance you currently find yourself, everything will be accounted for in the direct contact with God. Just put in a little effort. Just sacrifice some comfort. Put in the time, and you will see for yourself.

Goswami Tulsidas uses the terms “saba siddhi”. This refers to every kind of mystic perfection. Simply by chanting the holy names, in a dedicated way, you can reach a point equivalent to perfection in mystic yoga practice. The proof is there in Dhruva Maharaja. He chanted the holy names. He wanted something like five dollars. Instead, he acquired millions and millions of dollars, in the virtual bank account, to be spent as he saw fit.

पय अहार फल खाइ जपु राम नाम षट मास
सकल सुमण्गल सिद्धि सब करतल तुलसीदास

paya ahāra phala khāi japu rāma nāma ṣaṭa māsa
sakala sumaṇgala siddhi saba karatala tulasīdāsa

“Subsisting on fruits and milk, chant Shri Rama’s holy name for six months. Tulsidas says that by following this formula all auspiciousness and every perfection will arrive in the palm of your hand.” (Dohavali, 5)

A person may be skeptical of the claim. How can I find all auspiciousness through chanting a name? Dhruva Maharaja wanted revenge for being taken off the lap of his father. Dhruva’s stepmother essentially taunted the boy, saying that he would have to wait for a future birth to receive the special honor. Dhruva went searching after God, to look for the person who had the highest authority, who could then right the wrong. It is like going to the highest court in the land, to reverse a lower court’s ruling, to correct a grave injustice.

Dhruva succeeded. Vishnu arrived at the scene to meet Dhruva. This means that by chanting the holy names the devoted soul, though young and immature, achieved everything there is. That is one way to understand God. As a concept, He is the complete whole. That is the impersonal understanding, but the personal side shows that there is the potential for interaction. Through a blessed meeting the complete whole can offer benedictions, consisting of aspects of that complete whole.

Not only was the stimulus of revenge satisfied in that meeting, but so was any other potential desire. This is why Prahlada Maharaja says that the true self-interest, svartha, is met at the lotus feet of Vishnu. Svartha and paramartha essentially merge into one only through devotional service. This is because Vishnu is beneficial to me, from beginning to end. In both the immediate remedy and the long-term resolution.

राम नाम कलि कामतरु सकल सुम:न्गल कन्द
सुमिरत करतल सिद्धि सब पग पग परमानन्द

rāma nāma kali kāmataru sakala suma:ngala kanda
sumirata karatala siddhi saba paga paga paramānanda

“Shri Rama’s holy name is like a desire tree in Kali Yuga and is the root of all auspiciousness. Whoever remembers it gets all perfections in the palm of their hand and supreme bliss at every step.” (Dohavali, 28)

Why would I want revenge when I have the kindest person in front of me? What satisfaction is revenge going to provide that surpasses the feeling of seeing Vishnu in front of me? This explains why saintly people are so eager to rescue others. They have no enmity. They are a friend to all. If there was a rivalry at some prior stage in life, it is now gone. They have the connection to God, and so their only desire is to help others find the same connection, such that the blemishes that create unnecessary rivalries in the first place will be cleared.

‘साधु-सङ्ग’, ‘साधु-सङ्ग’ — सर्व-शास्त्रे कय
लव-मात्र साधु-सङ्गे सर्व-सिद्धि हय

‘sādhu-saṅga’, ‘sādhu-saṅga’ — sarva-śāstre kaya
lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya

“The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success.” (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 22.54)

In Closing:

“Taunted that my opportunity to miss,
Well just remember revenge is bliss.

To the forest I will go,
To meet Vishnu so.”

Chanting and austerity the trick,
Success months after six.

But Dhruva despite original vow,
Completely satisfied now.

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Tags: dailyprompt, dhruva, hare krishna, poem, poems, poetry