Sri Hari Confers the Highest Position on Dhruva

Mathura was originally known as Madhuvan, because the demon Madhu used to live there. After Madhu, his son Lavana lived there. Shatrughna killed Lavana and converted Madhuvan into a holy teertha, and it came to be known as Madhura.

Bhagawan Sri Hari is present in Mathura always.

Dhruva started observing tapas there as per the instructions of the munis.
Dhruva’s mind was so much focused on Sri Hari that Sri Hari occupied his mind in his entirety.

Bhumi Devi could not bear Dhruva’s weight. Whenever Dhruva stood on his left leg, the left side of Bhumi went down. Whenever he stood on his right leg, the right side went down. When he stood on his thumbs, the earth shivered. The rivers, oceans—everything became agitated. So intense was Dhruva’s tapas.

The devas became very worried.
They all got together and decided to obstruct Dhruva’s tapas.

Indra sent Kushmandas. Kushmandas are a group of beings who are very ferocious and mischievous. They are like soldiers of devas. They can create all kinds of trouble.

They went to Dhruva and started disturbing his tapas.

In the meantime, Suneeti heard about where her son was and what he was doing.
She rushed to Mathura.
She started crying in front of Dhruva:

Son, what are you doing? Why are you spoiling your health by doing all this? Is this the age to get into all this? You are only five years old. This is the time for you to play with your friends. How can you leave me behind alone and helpless like this? You are the only one I have got. So come back with me. Let us go home. Play with your friends. Then you have to start learning. Then you have to have your own family and life. When you have lived your full life, get into stuff like this. Get into things that suit your age. Tapasya is not for a child like you.

Now, if you don’t listen to me, I am going to give up my life right here, in front of you.

Dhruva was so absorbed in Sri Hari that he neither saw his mother nor heard all this.

By that time the Kushmandas arrived—screaming and roaring, wielding all kinds of deadly weapons. They started trying to terrorize Dhruva. Kushmandas with wide gaping mouths like crocodiles and tigers and lions, some with flames coming out of their mouths. They screamed and roared and threatened him. They shouted: kill him, kill him, eat him.

Nothing happened. Dhruva didn’t even notice them.
The Kushmandas failed and went back.

Devas became more scared. They approached Sri Hari:

We are not able to do anything with this boy. His tejas is increasing day by day. He is looking for the highest position in the world. What does he want—to become Indra or Surya? We don’t know.

The devas were feeling insecure.

They prayed to Sri Hari: please make this boy stop his tapas and relieve us of our insecurity.

Sri Hari said – don’t worry, I will take care of it. He is not trying to grab the position of Indra or Surya or anything. I know what he wants. I will handle it. Now you can all go back peacefully.

Bhagawan Sri Hari appeared before Dhruva and said – I am pleased with your tapasya. Ask for whatever boon you want.

Dhruva had no words. He was so happy. He wanted to praise Sri Hari. He didn’t have words. He said: give me some words so that I can praise you.

Sri Hari touched him with the tip of his shankha.

Dhruva started singing his praise.

Dhruva said: I have attained my goal. I got your darshan. My tapasya has become fruitful.

Bhagawan said – that is fine, but you must have observed this severe tapasya with some purpose in mind. Ask for it. Because after having seen me in front of you like this, there is nothing that you cannot achieve. Ask whatever you wanted.

Dhruva said – Bhagawan, what is there that you don’t know? Still, as per your order, I will ask. My stepmother told me that since I was not born out of her womb, I don’t deserve the throne. Please give the position which is the highest and on which would depend the whole world.

Sri Hari said – even in your earlier birth you have pleased me. I will grant your wish. In your previous birth, you were a brahmin, fully immersed in my worship. You had a friend who was a kshatriya with all kinds of royal enjoyments and comforts. Under that influence, you also wanted all that. And now you are born in a royal family.

Those who worship me—they are eligible even for the ultimate moksha. And this wish of yours, the desire to be born a kshatriya, is nothing compared to that.

I am going to put you in a place on which will depend all the stars and planets. I will place you above the swarga loka, surya mandala, chandra mandala, graha mandala and nakshatra mandala. Above everything. You will be the pivot around which all these will move. You will be at the center of everything. They will all depend on your being stationary for their movement. I am going to make you above everything else and make the whole universe dependent on you.

Most of the devas enjoy their position only till the extent of a chaturyuga, some of them up to a manvantara. I am going to confer this position upon you for a whole kalpa. That is 71 chaturyugas multiplied by 14 manvantaras.

And Suneeti, your mother—on account of having given birth to you—will also stay by your side as a star till such time.

Dhruva is what we call Pole Star.
His position is known as Dhruva Pada.

Bhagawan Sri Hari, the bestower of all desires of his devotees, gave this position to Dhruva.

• What should I do when my goal begins to scare others around me?
  Stay courteous, document everything, and keep serving quietly. Let Sri Hari decide the timing. Insecurity in others is not your steering wheel.

• How do I pursue a ‘highest position’ without becoming ruthless?
  Tie ambition to service. Ask: does this role help many, refine me, and honor Sri Hari? If yes, move; if not, drop it.

• Why did fierce disturbances fail against a steady mind?
  Absorbed attention leaves no entry point for fear. Build it with fixed-time nama, single-task work, and clean sleep.

• How do I honor my parents while holding firm to a hard calling?
  Reassure, set health safeguards, promise check-ins, and continue the dharma path. Firmness plus affection keeps trust alive.

• What is the right way to ask the Lord for words when I feel speechless?
  Admit the gap, ask directly, and begin with one name. Grace often arrives as the first right sentence.

• When is silence stronger than argument?
  When the inner focus is clear and kind. Silence stops feeding the fire and keeps your energy for the real work.

• How do I convert emotional pain into clean action today?
  One round of nama, one apology if needed, one concrete step toward the goal. Pain turns into traction.

• What boundaries protect health during intense sadhana or work?
  Minimum sleep window, water schedule, sunlight walk, and simple meals. Tapas is sharp, not self-harm.

• How do I know if my pursuit is divinely aligned and not ego-chasing?
  Peace grows with effort, kindness increases under pressure, and shortcuts feel ugly. That is alignment.

• What do I do when authority misreads my intent?
  Keep records pristine, communicate briefly and truthfully, and let results mature. Time reveals motive.

• How can families support someone on a demanding path without panic?
  Share duties, set update times, celebrate small wins, and keep prayer for the person daily. Calm is practical love.

• What is a 20-minute daily anchor that builds pole-star steadiness?
  5 minutes stillness, 10 minutes Ashtakshara japa, 5 minutes on the single hardest task. Repeat without drama.

• How do I respond when inner praise feels inadequate?
  Offer it anyway. Sincerity beats eloquence. The heart’s bow matters more than ornate language.

• What is the clean motive behind asking for a ‘highest seat’?
  To serve as a stable pivot for many, not to tower over them. Stability is the boon; service is the use.

• How do I keep progress from turning into pride?
  Do quiet seva nobody sees, give credit away, and keep a private stream of nama. Pride dries up without applause.

• What lesson do I take when powerful beings feel insecure about my rise?
  Fear is normal in systems. Be transparent, be fair, and don’t slow your dharma. Let your integrity win slowly.

• How do I build attention that shrugs off loud distractions?
  Single input at a time, device away during nama, and short focus sprints at work. Attention is a muscle.

• What sentence sets the right posture each morning?
  'Sri Hari, make me steady inside and useful outside today.'

• How do I translate cosmic placement into daily leadership?
  Be the calm center during storms, hold the schedule, and keep the team’s compass on truth. You are the pivot, not the spotlight.

• What is a practical sign that grace has met my effort?
  Obstacles stop owning your mood, timely help appears, and you can smile without performance.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi