PUTTADASANU NANALLA?

 A peep into this special composition:

"PUTTA DASANU NANALLA"

Putta in Kannada means small and hence Sri Kanakadasaru is here referring to Dhruva Kumara.

Story of Dhruvakumara.

King UththAnapada, son of Svayambhuva Manu, had two wives namely Suniti, the first queen, and Suruchi, the second queen. The king had special affliction and affection for Suruchi. Dhruva was the son of Uththanapada from his first wife Suniti. However, just before the marriage, Suruchi had put a condition that only her should be the successor of Uththanapada and the king had consented. The king Uththanapada had a son called Uttama from Suruchi. Uttama always used to sit on the lap of King Uththanapada even when the king was occupying his royal chair.

When Dhruva was five years of age, he saw Uttama sitting on the lap of the king, who was sitting on his Royal Seat. Uttama was younger than Dhruva. After seeing Uttama sitting on the lap of the king, Dhruva also felt like sitting on the vacant lap of the king. As soon as Dhruva sat on the lap of King Uththanapada, his second wife Suruchi came rushing towards the throne and told Dhruva: “Why are you presuming futile hopes and ambitions, my child? You are the son of Suniti (Suneeti) and you are not my son to pin your hopes on the lap of your father nor the silky soft seat of this royal throne as his successor. The seat of this regal throne is exclusively fixed for my son. You forget your lofty ambitions and restrict yourself to the lap of your mother Suniti.”

 The boy was baffled by this explanation of Suruchi and more so about the silence of his father, who neither consoled Dhruva nor stopped Suruchi from driving the boy off the lap of his father. The highly disappointed and vexed Dhruva went to the apartment of his mother Suniti, who read his face and asked what was the problem. Dhruva explained to her what transpired in the palace and wanted to know from his mother the reason for Suniti preventing him from sitting on the lap of his father. Suniti could not truly explain everything to the boy and spoil his mind with corrupt feelings. Her eyes were filled with tears and her sight was dimmed. But, she did not want her son to know everything. She tried pacifying her son by saying: “The regal throne is not the property of everyone nor can it be occupied by anyone who does not deserve. The Regal Throne, the Royal Umbrella, the Royal horses, elephants, the chariot, the palanquin belong to him who deserves them most. The king is favouring Suruchi because she probably deserves it most. There is no question of merit or demerit in such human favours. There is no point in baking in grief and disappointment. If you are not eligible for some status, try to earn the eligibility through religious merit. Just as water flows down the low lands, the faculties of piety, fraternity, amity and assiduous benevolence to living beings descend on him who propitiates the divine with devotion.”

 “Dhruva assured his mother that he would tread on the path his virtuous mother had shown him on that occasion and he also vouched to do everything that would elevate his rank to the royal throne. I will not long for the throne that Uttama is aspiring to get from my father just because his mother is the beloved of my father. I will acquire such status that my father has not acquired thus far.”

Dhruva quit his mother’s apartments and entered an adjoining forest; he saw Seven Saints or Munis sitting on the hides of black antelope, which they taken off their body and spread it over the Holy Grass (Kusha). Dhruva saluted them with all devotion, bowed his head in front of them humbly and told them in a low, pleasing and pleading voice: “Dear Munis, I am the son of Utthanapada from Suniti. I am greatly disappointed with this world and surrendering in front of you for solace and relief.”

The Rishis were taken aback by looking at an adolescent child of four or five years expressing dissatisfaction over the world, especially being the son of a great king. They said: “Being a prince of a large kingdom and being a child of four to five years, you cannot be so dejected as your father king can give you anything you want on earth. He can satisfy all your desires. Moreover, your desires at this age cannot be beyond the capacity of your father-king. We are at a loss to understand the reason for your pain and departure from the comforts of the affectionate bosom of your royal parents. Please explain to us the reason for your discontent.”

Dhruva did not mince words with the Rishis. He did not try to hid his feelings. He told everything that had transpired between him and Suruchi and then the didactic messages his own mother Suniti had showered on him. By birth, he was a Kshatriya and he could not erase the penury his heart had suffered due to the harsh words of his foster mother. Enticed further by the sages to fully express himself, Dhruva stated:

 “I ever do not desire for riches nor the dominion. I want to attain a state that no one has hitherto attained a

nd I want from you, Holy Sages, the path to that elevation which will be superior than all other worldly objects and civic dignities.”                continued ....