Song 29

(Sindhuḍā rāga)

Refrain: The great souls take sshelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s feet. They know that great sweetness stays at the Lord’s reddish feet.

94. "Seeing Madhuvana, Dhruva becanme joyful. Observing the fast appropriate for arriving at a holy place, he passed the night.

95. "At dawn he bathed and chanted his mantra. He had neither hunger nor thirst. He floated in tears.

96. "Every five or seven days he ate one badarī fruit. On the other days he accepted only some water touched by tulasī.

97. "Then he would fast for thirty days. Dhruva broke his fast only once a month.

98. "Once he would raise his arms with cupped palms. Then he would chant japa of the twelvesyllable mantra.

99. "His feet up, he stayed under the Yamunā’s waters. In the summer he sat with fires on four sides.

100. "In the winter he stayed in the Yamunā’s waters. During the monsoon he bore much suffering.

101. "Dhruva meditated and meditated. He was in a trance od samādhi. In his meditation he saw Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose form bends in three places.

102. "Indra and the demigods were surprised. How did Dhruva become qualified to perform such activities. They did not know.

103. "Brahmā said: ‘In the end he will be qualified for my post. Then Dhruva will sit in Brahmā’s post. I must do something to stop him.’

104. "Kuvera and Varuṇa said: ‘He will attain our posts. Lord Kṛṣṇa will give our posts to him. This we know.’

105. "Indra said: ‘Dhruva will attain my post. Lord Kṛṣṇa will kindly give it to him.’

106. "Indra said: ‘Everyone else yearns after my post. Dhruva, though he does not yearn after it, will attain my post.’

107. "All the demigods said: ‘We sit on exalted thrones. By his great austerities Dhruva will attain our posts.’

108. "Brahmā ansd the other demigods devised various strategies to break dhurva’s great austerities.

109. "With single-pointed concentration Dhruva meditated on three-fold-bending Lord Kṛṣṇa. Brahmā, Indra, and the other demigods came to test Dhruva’s resolve.

110. "One demigod called aloud into Dhruva’s ear: ‘Dhruva, you will die. Did you come here to die?’

111. "Another demigod said: ‘Dhruva, your father is dead. Another demigod said: ‘Dhruva, a black snake approaches.’

112. "Another demigod said: ‘Dhurva, your mother is dead. Another demigod said: ‘Dhruva, quickly flee.’

113. "Another demigod said: ‘Dhruva, a forest fire approaches. Another demigod said: ‘Dhruva will did. He will die.’

114. "Indra’s elephant tried to push its tusks into Drhuva’s chest.Then the elephant wrapped its trunk around Dhruva’s waist.

115. "Vāyu’s snake tried to devour Dhruva. Sūrya’s tiger tried to drink Dhruva’s blood.

116. "With snake ropes the demigods bound Dhruva and threw him into a fire. Candra tried to drown Dhruva in the yamunā’s waters.

117. "What can the bites of ten million snakes do to a person who keeps Lord Kṛṣṇa’s name on his tongue?

118. "How can a person who meditates on three-foldbending Lord Kṛṣṇa become broken. In the end Brahmā and the demigods fled.

119. "With single-pointed concentration Dhruva meditated on Lord Kṛṣṇa’s feet." Locana dāsa joyfully sings his glories.