Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 4 Chapter 9:50-67

Book 4: Chapter 9

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 4: Chapter 9: Verses 50-67 Dhruva returns home after receiving a boon from the Lord Milk incessantly flowed, O valiant Vidura, from the breasts of Suniti (the mother of a hero), bathed as they were at that time with her tears of joy. The people (of the city) felicitated the (senior) queen (Suniti) and said, "Luckily enough (for all of us) your son, who had long been lost, has been recovered and has (thus) wiped out your agony. He will in course of time rule over the terrestrial globe. You have surely adored the Lord, who puts an end to the suffering of the suppliant, and by constantly contemplating on whom the wise have succeeded in conquering death, which is so very difficult to conquer." Placing Dhruva, who was thus being fondly caressed by the people, on (the back of) a female elephant along with his (younger) brother (Uttama), the king (Uttanapada) joyously entered the city (of Barhismati), acclaimed (by all). The city was decorated here and there with plantain trees and young arecas containing bunches (of fruits and blossoms) set up with charming alligator-shaped festoons tied to them, and was adorned at every entrance with jars full of water with lights burning on them and leaves of mango trees, pieces of cloth, wreaths of flowers and strings of pearls hanging about their necks. It was graced on all sides with defensive walls, gates and mansions decked with gold and with their fops shining like the glorious pinnacles of aerial cars. Its quadrangles, streets, attics and roads had been cleaned and the city sprinkled with sandal water. Again, it was scattered with fried as well as unfried rice, unbroken rice, flowers, fruits and (other) offerings. Everywhere the virtuous women of the city showered on Dhruva, as they saw him on the road, white mustard seeds, unbroken rice, curds, water, blades of Durva (panic grass), flowers and fruits, uttering their benedictions (on the child) out of (pure) affection; and hearing their sweet strains, Dhruva entered the palace of his father. Fondly caressed by his father, Dhruva lived in that excellent palace built of most precious stones, like a god in heaven. It was furnished with best of ivory (soft and white) as the froth of milk and provided with coverings of gold, and contained costly seats and other furniture, made of gold. In its walls of crystal and emerald shone lights in the shape of bright gems placed in the hands of beautiful female figures carved in precious stones. Within the premises of the palace there were pleasure-gardens charming with different species of celestial trees, resorted to by warbling pairs of birds and humming bees drunk with honey. It also contained extensive wells with steps of cat's-eye, containing white and blue lotuses and water-lilies and inhabited by swarms of swans and ducks, ruddy geese and cranes. The royal sage Uttanapada was highly amazed to see (with his own eyes) the most wonderful glory of his son (Dhruva), of which he had (already) heard (from the mouth of Narada). (Later on) the king made Dhruva the sovereign of the entire globe, when he saw that the prince had not only come of age, but had also won the esteem of the ministers and the devotion of the people. And perceiving himself advanced in age, the king was (now) disgusted with the pleasures of sense and departed for the woods, contemplating on the essential character of the Self. Thus ends the ninth discourse entitled The Coronation of Dhruva' in Book Four of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.