A peep into Kanakadasa's "Puttadasanu nanall"
Dhruva was not shaken by this trick as he was already immersed in penance. He could not hear the prayers offered by the pretentious Suniti and after several such attempts, the form of Suniti disappeared from the presence of Dhruva. Now, the demons of most ferocious and fierce forms appeared in front of Dhruva, beholding several lethal weapons, wielding them in front of him, making horrendous sounds and threatening to slit his neck. Hundreds of Jackals gushing flames from their mouths came close to Dhruva. The sprites yelled at him “Kill him, destroy him, punch out the life from his body” and so on. Some tried to eat Dhruva. Several demons appeared in the form of ferocious lions, tigers, camels, crocodiles. They were roaring in horrible voice. But, nothing could divert the attention of Dhruva as his body, mind, heart and soul were all filled with Lord Vishnu. All attempts of detracting Dhruva were foiled which further perplexed the deities. They first discussed the next course of action and surrendered, as the last resort, to Lord Hari. They addressed Lord Vishnu: “Oh God of Gods, the supreme protector of this sovereign universe! We are all in deep trouble due to the austerities of Dhruva and we need succour from you. We do not know his intentions. Please remove the affliction from our hearts and do whatever you want to stop Dhruva from penance.”
Lord assured them: “Do not be afraid any more as Dhruva is not after the honour nor the royal seat of Indra. He is not seeking any unthinkable boon and hence I will soon grant whatever he seeks and desires to have.”
The gods were pleased with the assurance of Lord Vishnu. They saluted him and returned to their abodes. Lord Hari, adored with four arms, appeared in front of Dhruva and said: “Dear son of Utthanapada, do not be worried for I am really willing to grant whatever you want. Please pronounce whatever you want from me.”
Dhruva opened his eyes and saw Lord Vishnu, holding the shells, the Discus, the mace, the bow and scimitar and that form of Lord Vishnu matched the form he was visualising during his penance. Dhruva was very much happy after seeing Lord Vishnu. Touching the forehead of the boy with the tip of his conch, Lord Vishnu, waited for the boy to pronounce his desire. Dhruvakumara, the son of Utthanapada bowed his head, saluted the Lord once again by joining his two palms in utter submission and then said: “I salute heart fully, Oh Lord! You are the Earth, the water, the fire, the air, ether, mind, intellect, the first element called Ahankara, the primeval nature, the pure, subtle, all-pervading soul, surpassing the nature. You are omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent; You are the Purushottama, the Virat, Swarat, Samrat and Adipurusha.”
The Lord was impressed by the prayers offered by Dhruva and the devotion, the single-minded dedication he had exhibited during the penance had touched the heart of Lord Vishnu. He asked Dhruva about the reason behind his decision to leave the comforts of the palace, the affection of his mother and to undertake penance. Dhruva explained to the Lord how he was abused and discriminated by his foster mother Sumathi. Dhruva praised the Lord and said there is nothing in this universe, including the three known worlds and beyond, which is not created, preserved, nurtured and destroyed by Him. Pleased with the child’s knowledge, commitment, devotion and unbiased, unadulterated, unambiguous desire of the child. He knew what the boy would be seeking from him. Yet, to hear from the boy in his own words, the Lord insisted, “Pronounce your desire and I will immediately deliver whatever you want”. The boy initially, once again, narrated what had transpired between him and his foster mother Sumathi, asked the Lord “Why merely not being born to her should snatch my natural right to the throne, Oh Lord?” and then put forth his desire “I now desire and solicit your blessings and grace to be exalted to a state which is superior to all others and a state that lasts forever.”
Lord Vishnu replied: “Earlier, you were born as a Brahman and you were fully devoted to me, you were highly caring for your parents and observed your duties without a miss. Later, you garnered a pleasant acquaintance with a prince, indulged in sensuous pleasures and painted your heart and mind with a desire to be born a son of a king. That desire piloted you to be born a son of Utthanapada in the race of Swayambhuva. Having propitiated me with full heart and devotion, you deserve to be liberated from life. You have fixed your mind on me and I want you to be stationed there on the sky above the three worlds; you shall be above the Sun, the Moon, the Mars, the son of Soma or Mercury, Venus, the son of Ravi or Surya or the Saturn, above the Sapta Rishis or Seven Rishis. You will be there for one full Kalpa. Your mother Suniti will also be there in your orbit as a bright star and will be there till you last. You will acquire a state that exceeds religious merit.”
Sri Kanakadasaru has said in his first statement that he is not puttadasa or the smallest servant of the Lord or the youngest servant who propitiated the Lord to secure a blissful state.
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