Ecstatic Transformation - The Six-Month Journey until Dhruva Has Seen God
The narration of the young prince who searched for God in the forest provides a definitive standard for success in devotional service. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the most significant turning point in this history is the moment when Dhruva has seen God face to face. This vision was the result of a scientific process of austerity that culminated in the total purification of the seeker’s consciousness. This article explores the nature of this transcendental meeting and how the presence of the Lord transformed a determined child into a liberated soul who no longer desired any material benediction.
Path to the Face-to-Face Vision
Achieving a direct audience with the Supreme Personality of Godhead is considered the highest success of human life. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that although even great demigods and sages find it difficult to obtain this vision, the five-year-old prince accomplished it through his unwavering vows. By eating only dry foliage and eventually stopping all food and water, he forced the Lord to personally manifest. This demonstrates that when a practitioner follows the training of a spiritual master with absolute sincerity, the Lord reveals Himself, proving that such a vision is possible even for a child within a single lifetime.
- 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.
- As a result of his (Dhruva Maharaja's) rendering such devotional service with great determination and austerity, the Personality of Godhead personally manifested Himself before him.
- Manu was very proud that Dhruva Maharaja was one of the descendants in his family because at the age of only five years Dhruva began meditating upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead and within six months he was able to see the Supreme Lord face to face.
- Dhruva Maharaja went to the forest, and he had practiced so much penance and austerities. Then he saw God. And I can see God immediately without being trained, without undergoing training? No. It is not possible.
The Symptoms of Ecstatic Love
The impact of the Divine presence was visible in the boy's physical form. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when a devotee sees the Lord face to face, the quality of their body changes from material to transcendental. Dhruva experienced the eight kinds of ecstatic symptoms, such as agitation in awe and respect, which indicate the highest platform of spiritual realization. He was completely freed from the contamination of material desire and became aware of the massive difference between his previous condition and his new spiritual status. This transformation confirms that the presence of the Lord acts as a purifying fire that removes all traces of material illusion.
- All these features of Dhruva Maharaja's bodily expression (his agitation in awe and respect after seeing God) indicate that upon seeing the Lord face to face he developed the eight kinds of transcendental ecstasy in his body.
- Dhruva Maharaja and Prahlada Maharaja and many other devotees were able to see the Personality of Godhead face to face apparently in the same body. This means that the quality of a devotee's body changes from material to transcendence.
- After achieving perfection by self-realization and seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face, Dhruva Maharaja was completely freed from all contamination of material desire.
- Dhruva Maharaja could understand very easily the difference between his condition before and after attaining spiritual realization and seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face.
Finding the Valuable Diamond
The ultimate result of the vision was a complete shift in values. Before he found the Lord, the prince was driven by the need for a kingdom and revenge. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that once the boy saw the Supreme Person, he immediately realized the "unimportance" of his original demands. He compared his initial desires to searching for "scraps of glass" or "rubbish" and finding instead a "valuable diamond." He achieved the position of a pure devotee who no longer wants even liberation, but is perfectly satisfied simply by seeing and serving the Lord. His declaration—"I don't want anything; I have seen You"—remains the hallmark of spiritual perfection.
- Even great demigods and sages have difficulty in seeing You (Krsna). Now I (Dhruva Maharaja) am pleased, and all my desires are satisfied. I do not want anything else. I was searching for some broken glass, but instead I have found a great and valuable gem.
- As soon as Dhruva Maharaja saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face, he immediately became conscious of the unimportance of his demand from the Lord to have an exalted position better than Lord Brahma's.
- It is described that after the appearance of the Lord, when Dhruva Maharaja thought and compared his determination to his final reward, he realized that he had wanted a few particles of broken glass but instead had received many diamonds.
- Dhruva Maharaja was thinking of becoming happy by getting a great kingdom, and ultimately when he met the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he found the object of love. He said, - No. I don't want anything. I have got now everything. I have seen You.
Conclusion
The history of the child who conquered the Supreme Lord teaches us that seeing God is not a myth, but a tangible reality for the sincere soul. Śrīla Prabhupāda reminds us that while we may approach the Lord with material motives or in distress, the process of devotional service is so potent that it eventually cleanses the heart of all such "scraps of glass." By the time the devotee stands face to face with the Divine, all worldly ambitions are replaced by the valuable diamond of pure love. The example of the prince’s transformation proves that once a person has found the true object of love, they are forever satisfied, having achieved the highest perfection of life.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Dhruva's Seeing God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.