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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 4: Chapter 8: Verses 16-27
Dhruva's departure for the woods
Scorched by grief as a wild creeper by the forest fire, the young girl lost heart and cried. Her eyes, which were graceful as a pair of lotuses, were filled with tears as she recalled the (poignant) remarks of his co-wife. Seeing no way out of her sorrow, the girl heaved a deep sigh and said to her child, "Entertain no evil thought about others, dear child. For a man reaps (in this life) the very suffering he has inflicted on others (in a previous existence). Suruci (your stepmother) has truly said that you were borne in the womb, and brought up with the milk of, my wretched self, whom the king feels ashamed to accept as his wife, nay, even as his servant-maid ! Therefore, dear child, abide ungrudgingly by those words, which, though uttered by your stepmother, are nonetheless true, and adore the lotus-feet of Lord Visnu(who is beyond the range of sense-perception), if you aspire to (ascend) the royal throne like Uttama (your half-brother). It was by worshipping the lotus-feet of Lord Visnu, who assumed the quality of Sattva (harmony) for the protection of the universe, that Brahma, (your great grandfather) attained to that most exalted position which is an object of reverence even to those who have conquered their mind and senses. Even so your grandfather, the worshipful Manu, secured both earthly and heavenly bliss as well as final beatitude-which is so difficult to attain by any other means-by worshipping the Lord with single minded devotion through sacrifices with liberal sacrificial fees. Take refuge, my child, in Him alone, who is so fond of His devotees and access to whose lotus-feet is sought after by men keen to get liberated; and, imprinting His image on your mind, purified by devotion to your duty and exclusively attached to Him, adore the Supreme Person. I find none other than the Lord with lotus-like eyes, who can wipe out your sorrow. Even Sri (the goddess of beauty and prosperity), who is eagerly sought, dear one, by (all) others, (ever) seeks after Him, holding a lotus (in place of a lamp) in her hand. Maitreya resumed : Hearing the words thus addressed by his mother (Suniti), which were conducive to the object sought after by him, Dhruva fully controlled his mind by force of his reason and sallied forth from his father's capital. When Narada heard of this and learnt what the child intended to do, he (met him on the way and,) touching the latter's head with his purifying hand, said (to himself), wondering : "Oh the spirit of the Ksatriyas, who cannot brook insult ! Though yet a child, he has taken to heart the stinging words of his stepmother !" Narada said : We do not find anything conducive to your honour or ignominy at this stage, dear son, a child as you are, fond of play and other things.
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