Dhruva's Tapasya — The Boy Who Became the Pole Star

Kya aapne kabhi paanch saal ke bacche ko itna naraaz dekha hai ki woh ghar chhod kar jungle chala jaaye? Na khelne ke liye — tapasya karne ke liye. Yeh katha usi bacche ki hai — Dhruva ki.

Raja Uttanapada ke do raniyan thin. Badi — Suniti — seedhi-saadi, shaant swabhaav ki. Chhoti — Suruchi — sundar, tez-tarraar, aur raja ki laadli. Suniti ka beta tha Dhruva — paanch saal ka. Suruchi ka beta tha Uttama — lagbhag usi umar ka. Mahal mein sab jaante the — raja ka dil Suruchi ke paas tha, aur Suniti bas naam ki patraani thi.

Ek din raja apne aasan par baithe the, Uttama unki god mein khel raha tha. Dhruva ne dekha — uska nanha dil machal utha. Woh daud kar pita ki god mein chadhne laga. Tabhi Suruchi ne use kheench kar neeche utaar diya. Sabke saamne — darbarion ke saamne — usne kaha: 'Raja ki god mein baithne ka sapna dekhna hai to meri kokh se janm lekar aao. Ya phir jungle jaakar Bhagwan Vishnu ki tapasya karo — tab shayad tumhe woh sthan mile jo mere bete ko yunhi mil gaya hai.'

Paanch saal ka baccha — rotaa hua maa ke paas gaya. Suniti ne use god mein liya, aansu ponchhe — aur phir woh kaha jo itihaas ban gaya: 'Beta, ro mat. Jo apmaan ko aansuon mein baha deta hai, woh bhool jaata hai. Jo use aag bana leta hai, woh chamak uthta hai. Suruchi ne tujhe chunauti di hai — use sweekaar kar. Ja, us Vishnu ki sharan le, jinke aage raja-maharaja bhi sir jhukaate hain.'

Aur Dhruva nikal pada. Akele. Mahal ke sukh chhod kar, nange pair jungle ki taraf. Raaste mein use mile devrishi Narad. Unhone bacche ko samjhaane ki koshish ki — 'Itne chhote ho, tapasya bachchon ka khel nahi. Ghar laut jaao.' Dhruva ne sir hila diya — 'Mujhe wapas nahi jaana.' Narad muskuraye. Aise dridh-nishchayi bacche ko rokna vyarth tha. Unhone use dvadashakshar mantra diya — 'Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya' — dhyaan ki vidhi sikhaayi, aur Yamuna ke kinaare Madhuvan ka raasta bata diya.

Madhuvan mein Dhruva ne aisi tapasya shuru ki jaisi devtaon ne bhi kam dekhi thi. Pehle mahine — har teesre din keval phal-mool. Doosre mahine — har chhathe din sookhi ghaas. Teesre mahine — har nauvein din sirf jal. Chauthe mahine — har baarahvein din keval vayu. Aur paanchvein mahine — usne saans rok li, ek pair par khada ho gaya, anguthe ke bal dharti par sthir — man poori tarah Vishnu mein leen.

Jungle ke jeev dekhte reh gaye — sher aakar paas baith jaate, pakshi kandhon par. Tapasya mein leen Dhruva ko na bhookh lagti, na pyaas — bas ek dhun thi: 'Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.' Mahal mein Suniti roti — lekin jab khabar darbar pahunchi, Raja Uttanapada ka seena garv se phool gaya.

Uske ek pair ke bhaari dabav se dharti dabne lagi. Jab usne praan-vayu rok li, to teenon lokon ki saansen rukne lagin. Devta ghabra gaye — daud kar Vishnu ke paas pahunche: 'Prabhu, yeh baccha to poori srishti ka santulan bigaad dega!' Vishnu muskuraye — 'Ghabraao mat. Uska sankalp poora hone ka samay aa gaya hai.'

Garud par sawaar hokar Vishnu Madhuvan pahunche. Dhruva ne aankhein kholi — saamne swayam Bhagwan! Paanch saal ka baccha — use stuti karni nahi aati thi. Woh bas dekhta reh gaya. Tab Vishnu ne apna shankh — Panchajanya — uske gaalon se chhua diya. Usi sparsh se Dhruva ke hriday mein divya gyaan utar aaya. Aur phir us nanhe kanth se aisi stuti phooti ki aakaash goonj utha — wahi Dhruva-stuti, jo aaj bhi granthon mein padhi jaati hai.

Vishnu ne vardaan maangne ko kaha. Dhruva ne haath jod diye — 'Prabhu, mujhe woh sthan do jo kabhi na hile, kabhi na mite.' Vishnu ne tathastu kaha — 'Tumhe milega Dhruva-pada — saptarshiyon se bhi uncha, sabse sthir sthan. Saare taare-taramandal tumhaari parikrama karenge. Pralay mein bhi tumhara sthan atal rahega.'

Dhruva mahal lauta. Raja Uttanapada ne use seene se laga liya — Suruchi ki aankhein sharm se jhuk gayin. Samay aane par Dhruva raja bana — chhattis hazaar varshon tak dharm se raajya kiya. Aur aakhir mein, jab uska samay poora hua, aakaash se divya vimana aaya. Kehte hain, usne Mrityu ke sir par pair rakh kar vimana mein kadam rakha — mrityu ko jeet kar. Apni maa Suniti ko bhi saath le gaya — wahi maa jisne use aansuon ki jagah aag di thi.

Dhruva ne ek aur vardaan maanga tha — 'Prabhu, meri maa Suniti ko bhi apne saath le jaane do — uske bina mera sthan adhoora hai.' Vishnu ne tathastu kaha. Kehte hain, aaj bhi Dhruva-taare ke paas ek chhota taara dikhta hai — log kehte hain, woh Suniti hai — apne bete ke paas, hamesha ke liye.

Aaj bhi raat ko aakaash mein dekhiye — sabse sthir taara. Naavik sadiyon se usi se disha paate hain. Woh Dhruva hai — wohi baccha, jo ek taane ko tapasya bana gaya.