From Broken Glass to Diamond - The Desires of Dhruva Mahārāja
This article explores the trajectory of Dhruva Mahārāja's spiritual life, starting from his intense material ambition to his ultimate perfection in pure devotion. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this history illustrates how the Supreme Lord, through His affectionate intervention, transforms a devotee's material cravings into spiritual satisfaction, proving that even imperfect worship of the Perfection can lead to the highest goal.
Material Ambition and Determination
Driven by the harsh words of his stepmother and a desire to vindicate his honor, Dhruva Mahārāja embarked on his worship with a specific material goal. His determination was not initially for liberation or service, but to attain a political position superior to that of his forefathers, including Lord Brahmā.
- Dhruva Maharaja at first wanted to achieve the greatest material kingdom and greater material possessions than his father, but when he was actually favored by the Lord, who appeared before him to give him the benediction he desired, he refused it.
- He (Dhruva Maharaja) was also only five years old, and in his childish way he desired to have a kingdom far greater than his father's, grandfather's or great-grandfather's.
- Dhruva Maharaja felt fully assured that Narada Muni could fulfill his desire, even though the desire was very extraordinary.
Mercy of the Lord
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is so kind that He accepts even those who approach Him with ulterior motives. Although Dhruva's desires were childish and mixed with material intent, the Lord reciprocated with his worship to grant him the ultimate benediction, showing that He is the only worthy shelter for those with material aspirations.
- Although it was a somewhat childish determination because Dhruva Maharaja was nothing but a small child, Lord Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is so kind and merciful that He fulfilled Dhruva's desire.
- The Lord is so kind that because Dhruva Maharaja, in the beginning, had desired a kingdom greater than his father's, he was promoted to Dhruvaloka, the best planet in the universe.
- The Lord, awarded Dhruva Maharaja both benefits - that is, the Lord fulfilled his desires and also gave him eternal salvation. Such are the lessons we learn from all the revealed scriptures.
Broken Glass and the Diamond
The pivotal moment in Dhruva's history is his realization of the insignificance of material gain compared to the presence of the Lord. Having sought "broken glass," he was overwhelmed to find the "diamond" of the Lord's audience, leading to a profound change in heart where he no longer desired the material benedictions he had performed severe austerities to attain.
- 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.
- Dhruva Maharaja went to worship God to gain something, but when he actually came in contact with God he did not want anything from the Lord. The Lord, however, awarded Dhruva Maharaja both benefits - that is, the Lord fulfilled his desires.
- It was Dhruva Maharaja who lamented - How foolish I was that I took to devotional service with a desire for material profit.
Conclusion
Dhruva Mahārāja's life stands as an eternal testament to the purifying power of bhakti-yoga. While he began his journey with a heart pierced by insult and filled with material ambition, the process of worshiping the Supreme Lord completely washed away his contamination. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that his transition from seeking a kingdom to seeking only the Lord's service confirms that even if one has material desires, one should worship Kṛṣṇa, for He alone can elevate the jīva from the platform of temporary sense gratification to the eternal platform of spiritual satisfaction.
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 Desires. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.