Chapter Ten

               Dhruva Maharaja's Fight With the Yaksas

 

                                TEXT 1

 

                                 TEXT

 

                            maitreya uvaca

                         prajapater duhitaram

                       sisumarasya vai dhruvah

                         upayeme bhramim nama

                       tat-sutau kalpa-vatsarau

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   maitreyah uvaca--the great sage Maitreya continued; prajapateh--of the Prajapati; duhitaram--daughter; sisumarasya--of Sisumara; vai--certainly; dhruvah--Dhruva Maharaja; upayeme--married; bhramim--Bhrami; nama--named; tat-sutau--her sons; kalpa--Kalpa; vatsarau--Vatsara.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The great sage Maitreya said: My dear Vidura, thereafter Dhruva Maharaja married the daughter of Prajapati Sisumara, whose name was Bhrami, and two sons named Kalpa and Vatsara were born of her.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   It appears that Dhruva Maharaja married after being installed on the throne of his father and after the departure of his father to the forest for self-realization. It is very important to note in this connection that since Maharaja Uttanapada was greatly affectionate towards his son, and since it is the duty of a father to get his sons and daughters married as quickly as possible, why did he not get his son married before he left home? The answer is that Maharaja Uttanapada was a rajarsi, saintly king. Although he was busy in his political affairs and duties of government management, he was very anxious for self-realization. Therefore as soon as his son Dhruva Maharaja was quite worthy to take charge of the government, he took this opportunity to leave home, just like his son, who, without fear, left home for self-realization, even at the age of five years. These are rare instances from which we can see that the importance of spiritual realization is above all other important work. Maharaja Uttanapada knew very well that to get his son Dhruva Maharaja married was not so important that it should take preference to his going away to the forest for self-realization.

 

                                TEXT 2

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         ilayam api bharyayam

                       vayoh putryam maha-balah

                        putram utkala-namanam

                        yosid-ratnam ajijanat

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ilayam--unto his wife named Ila; api--also; bharyayam--unto his wife; vayoh--of the demigod Vayu (controller of air); putryam--unto the daughter; maha-balah--the greatly powerful Dhruva Maharaja; putram--son; utkala--Utkala; namanam--of the name; yosit--female; ratnam--jewel; ajijanat--he begot.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The greatly powerful Dhruva Maharaja had another wife, named Ila, who was the daughter of the demigod Vayu. By her he begot a son named Utkala and a very beautiful daughter.

 

                                TEXT 3

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        uttamas tv akrtodvaho

                          mrgayayam baliyasa

                        hatah punya-janenadrau

                        tan-matasya gatim gata

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   uttamah--Uttama; tu--but; akrta--without; udvahah--marriage; mrgayayam--on a hunting excursion; baliyasa--very powerful; hatah--was killed; punya-janena--by a Yaksa; adrau--on the Himalaya Mountains; tat--his; mata--mother (Suruci); asya--of her son; gatim--way; gata--followed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Dhruva Maharaja's younger brother Uttama, who was still unmarried, once went on a hunting excursion and was killed by a powerful Yaksa in the Himalaya Mountains. Along with him, his mother, Suruci, also followed the path of her son [she died].

 

                                TEXT 4

 

                                 TEXT

 

                     dhruvo bhratr-vadham srutva

                         kopamarsa-sucarpitah

                      jaitram syandanam asthaya

                        gatah punya-janalayam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dhruvah--Dhruva Maharaja; bhratr-vadham--the killing of his brother; srutva--hearing this news; kopa--anger; amarsa--vengeance; suca--lamentation; arpitah--being filled with; jaitram--victorious; syandanam--chariot; asthaya--getting on; gatah--went; punya-jana-alayam--to the city of the Yaksas.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Dhruva Maharaja heard of the killing of his brother Uttama by the Yaksas in the Himalaya Mountains, being overwhelmed with lamentation and anger, he got on his chariot and went out for victory over the city of the Yaksas, Alakapuri.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Dhruva Maharaja's becoming angry, overwhelmed with grief, and envious of the enemies was not incompatible with his position as a great devotee. It is a misunderstanding that a devotee should not be angry, envious or overwhelmed by lamentation. Dhruva Maharaja was the king, and when his brother was unceremoniously killed, it was his duty to take revenge against the Yaksas from the Himalayas.

 

                                TEXT 5

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        gatvodicim disam raja

                         rudranucara-sevitam

                       dadarsa himavad-dronyam

                        purim guhyaka-sankulam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gatva--going; udicim--northern; disam--direction; raja--King Dhruva; rudra-anucara--by followers of Rudra, Lord Siva; sevitam--inhabited; dadarsa--saw; himavat--Himalayan; dronyam--in a valley; purim--a city; guhyaka--ghostly persons; sankulam--full of.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Dhruva Maharaja went to the northern direction of the Himalayan range. In a valley he saw a city full of ghostly persons who were followers of Lord Siva.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In this verse it is stated that the Yaksas are more or less devotees of Lord Siva. By this indication the Yaksas may be taken to be the Himalayan tribes like the Tibetans.

 

                                TEXT 6

 

                                 TEXT

 

                     dadhmau sankham brhad-bahuh

                        kham disas canunadayan

                       yenodvigna-drsah ksattar

                       upadevyo 'trasan bhrsam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dadhmau--blew; sankham--conchshell; brhat-bahuh--the mighty-armed; kham--the sky; disah ca--and all directions; anunadayan--causing to resound; yena--by which; udvigna-drsah--appeared very anxious; ksattah--my dear Vidura; upadevyah--the wives of the Yaksas; atrasan--became frightened; bhrsam--greatly.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, as soon as Dhruva Maharaja reached Alakapuri, he immediately blew his conchshell, and the sound reverberated throughout the entire sky and in every direction. The wives of the Yaksas became very much frightened. From their eyes it was apparent that they were full of anxiety.

 

                                TEXT 7

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        tato niskramya balina

                         upadeva-maha-bhatah

                        asahantas tan-ninadam

                         abhipetur udayudhah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tatah--thereafter; niskramya--coming out; balinah--very powerful; upadeva--of Kuvera; maha-bhatah--great soldiers; asahantah--unable to tolerate; tat--of the conchshell; ninadam--sound; abhipetuh--attacked; udayudhah--equipped with various weapons.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O hero Vidura, the greatly powerful heroes of the Yaksas, unable to tolerate the resounding vibration of the conchshell of Dhruva Maharaja, came forth from their city with weapons and attacked Dhruva.

 

                                TEXT 8

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         sa tan apatato vira

                       ugra-dhanva maha-rathah

                        ekaikam yugapat sarvan

                     ahan banais tribhis tribhih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sah--Dhruva Maharaja; tan--all of them; apatatah--falling upon him; virah--hero; ugra-dhanva--powerful bowman; maha-rathah--who could fight with many chariots; eka-ekam--one after another; yugapat--simultaneously; sarvan--all of them; ahan--killed; banaih--by arrows; tribhih tribhih--by threes.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Dhruva Maharaja, who was a great charioteer and certainly a great bowman also, immediately began to kill them by simultaneously discharging arrows three at a time.

 

                                TEXT 9

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      te vai lalata-lagnais tair

                         isubhih sarva eva hi

                        matva nirastam atmanam

                       asamsan karma tasya tat

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   te--they; vai--certainly; lalata-lagnaih--intent upon their heads; taih--by those; isubhih--arrows; sarve--all of them; eva--certainly; hi--without fail; matva--thinking; nirastam--defeated; atmanam--themselves; asamsan--praised; karma--action; tasya--of him; tat--that.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the heroes of the Yaksas saw that all their heads were being thus threatened by Dhruva Maharaja, they could very easily understand their awkward position, and they concluded that they would certainly be defeated. But, as heroes, they lauded the action of Dhruva.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This spirit of fighting in a sporting attitude is very significant in this verse. The Yaksas were severely attacked. Dhruva Maharaja was their enemy, but still, upon witnessing the wonderful, heroic acts of Maharaja Dhruva, they were very pleased with him. This straightforward appreciation of an enemy's prowess is a characteristic of real ksatriya spirit.

 

                               TEXT 10

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       te 'pi camum amrsyantah

                        pada-sparsam ivoragah

                       sarair avidhyan yugapad

                       dvi-gunam pracikirsavah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   te--the Yaksas; api--also; ca--and; amum--at Dhruva; amrsyantah--being intolerant of; pada-sparsam--being touched by the feet; iva--like; uragah--serpents; saraih--with arrows; avidhyan--struck; yugapat--simultaneously; dvi-gunam--twice as much; pracikirsavah--trying to retaliate.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Just like serpents, who cannot tolerate being trampled upon by anyone's feet, the Yaksas, being intolerant of the wonderful prowess of Dhruva Maharaja, threw twice as many arrows--six from each of their soldiers--and thus they very valiantly exhibited their prowess.

 

                             TEXTS 11-12

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      tatah parigha-nistrimsaih

                        prasasula-parasvadhaih

                     sakty-rstibhir bhusundibhis

                       citra-vajaih sarair api

 

                        abhyavarsan prakupitah

                        saratham saha-sarathim

                      icchantas tat pratikartum

                          ayutanam trayodasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tatah--thereupon; parigha--with iron bludgeons; nistrimsaih--and swords; prasa-sula--with tridents; parasvadhaih--and lances; sakti--with pikes; rstibhih--and spears; bhusundibhih--with bhusundi weapons; citra-vajaih--having various feathers; saraih--with arrows; api--also; abhyavarsan--they showered Dhruva; prakupitah--being angry; sa-ratham--along with his chariot; saha-sarathim--along with his charioteer; icchantah--desiring; tat--Dhruva's activities; pratikartum--to counteract; ayutanam--of ten-thousands; trayodasa--thirteen.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Yaksa soldiers were 130,000 strong, all greatly angry and all desiring to defeat the wonderful activities of Dhruva Maharaja. With full strength they showered upon Maharaja Dhruva, along with his chariot and charioteer, various types of feathered arrows, parighas [iron bludgeons], nistrimsas [swords], prasasulas [tridents], parasvadhas [lances], saktis [pikes], rstis [spears] and bhusundi weapons.

 

                               TEXT 13

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         auttanapadih sa tada

                        sastra-varsena bhurina

                         na evadrsyatacchanna

                         asarena yatha girih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   auttanapadih--Dhruva Maharaja; sah--he; tada--at that time; sastra-varsena--by a shower of weapons; bhurina--incessant; na--not; eva--certainly; adrsyata--was visible; acchannah--being covered; asarena--by constant rainfall; yatha--as; girih--a mountain.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Dhruva Maharaja was completely covered by an incessant shower of weapons, just as a mountain is covered by incessant rainfall.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura points out in this connection that although Dhruva Maharaja was covered by the incessant arrows of the enemy, this does not mean that he succumbed in the battle. The example of a mountain peak's being covered by incessant rain is just suitable, for when a mountain is covered by incessant rain, all dirty things are washed from the body of the mountain. Similarly, the incessant shower of arrows from the enemy gave Dhruva Maharaja new vigor to defeat them. In other words, whatever incompetency he might have had was washed away.

 

                               TEXT 14

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        haha-karas tadaivasit

                       siddhanam divi pasyatam

                       hato 'yam manavah suryo

                        magnah punya-janarnave

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   haha-karah--tumult of disappointment; tada--at that time; eva--certainly; asit--became manifest; siddhanam--of all the residents of Siddhaloka; divi--in the sky; pasyatam--who were observing the fight; hatah--killed; ayam--this; manavah--grandson of Manu; suryah--sun; magnah--set; punya-jana--of the Yaksas; arnave--in the ocean.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All the Siddhas from the higher planetary systems were observing the fight from the sky, and when they saw that Dhruva Maharaja had been covered by the incessant arrows of the enemy, they roared tumultuously, "The grandson of Manu, Dhruva, is now lost!" They cried that Dhruva Maharaja was just like the sun and that now he had set within the ocean of the Yaksas.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In this verse the word manava is very significant. Generally this word is used to mean "human being." Dhruva Maharaja is also described here as manava. Not only is Dhruva Maharaja a descendant of Manu, but all human society descends from Manu. According to Vedic civilization, Manu is the lawgiver. Even today Hindus in India follow the laws given by Manu. Everyone, therefore, in human society is a manava, or descendant from Manu, but Dhruva Maharaja is a distinguished manava because he is a great devotee.

   The denizens of the planet Siddhaloka, where the residents can fly in the sky without airplanes, were anxious over Dhruva Maharaja's welfare in the battlefield. Srila Rupa Gosvami says, therefore, that not only is a devotee well protected by the Supreme Lord, but all the demigods, and even ordinary men, are anxious for his security and safety. The comparison given here that Dhruva Maharaja appeared to merge in the ocean of the Yaksas is also significant. When the sun sets on the horizon, it appears that the sun drowns in the ocean, but factually the sun has no difficulty. Similarly, although Dhruva appeared to drown in the ocean of the Yaksas, he had no difficulty. As the sun rises again in due course at the end of night, so Dhruva Maharaja, although he might have been in difficulty (because, after all, it was a fight, and in any fighting activities there are reverses), that did not mean that he was defeated.

 

                               TEXT 15

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         nadatsu yatudhanesu

                        jaya-kasisv atho mrdhe

                       udatisthad rathas tasya

                        niharad iva bhaskarah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nadatsu--while exclaiming; yatudhanesu--the ghostly Yaksas; jaya-kasisu--proclaiming victory; atho--then; mrdhe--in the fighting; udatisthat--appeared; rathah--the chariot; tasya--of Dhruva Maharaja; niharat--from the mist; iva--like; bhaskarah--the sun.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Yaksas, being temporarily victorious, exclaimed that they had conquered Dhruva Maharaja. But in the meantime Dhruva's chariot suddenly appeared, just as the sun suddenly appears from within foggy mist.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Here Dhruva Maharaja is compared to the sun and the great assembly of the Yaksas to foggy mist. Fog is insignificant in comparison with the sun. Although the sun is sometimes seen to be covered by fog, in fact the sun cannot be covered by anything. Our eyes may be covered by a cloud, but the sun is never covered. By this comparison to the sun, the greatness of Dhruva Maharaja in all circumstances is affirmed.

 

                               TEXT 16

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      dhanur visphurjayan divyam

                       dvisatam khedam udvahan

                     astraugham vyadhamad banair

                         ghananikam ivanilah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dhanuh--his bow; visphurjayan--twanging; divyam--wonderful; dvisatam--of the enemies; khedam--lamentation; udvahan--creating; astra-ogham--different types of weapons; vyadhamat--he scattered; banaih--with his arrows; ghana--of clouds; anikam--an army; iva--like; anilah--the wind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Dhruva Maharaja's bow and arrows twanged and hissed, causing lamentation in the hearts of his enemies. He began to shoot incessant arrows, shattering all their different weapons, just as the blasting wind scatters the assembled clouds in the sky.

 

                               TEXT 17

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        tasya te capa-nirmukta

                       bhittva varmani raksasam

                         kayan avivisus tigma

                         girin asanayo yatha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tasya--of Dhruva; te--those arrows; capa--from the bow; nirmuktah--released; bhittva--having pierced; varmani--shields; raksasam--of the demons; kayan--bodies; avivisuh--entered; tigmah--sharp; girin--mountains; asanayah--thunderbolts; yatha--just like.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The sharp arrows released from the bow of Dhruva Maharaja pierced the shields and bodies of the enemy, like the thunderbolts released by the King of heaven, which dismantle the bodies of the mountains.

 

                             TEXTS 18-19

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      bhallaih sanchidyamananam

                       sirobhis caru-kundalaih

                        urubhir hema-talabhair

                       dorbhir valaya-valgubhih

 

                         hara-keyura-mukutair

                       usnisais ca maha-dhanaih

                        astrtas ta rana-bhuvo

                        rejur vira-mano-harah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhallaih--by his arrows; sanchidyamananam--of the Yaksas who were cut to pieces; sirobhih--with heads; caru--beautiful; kundalaih--with earrings; urubhih--with thighs; hema-talabhaih--like golden palm trees; dorbhih--with arms; valaya-valgubhih--with beautiful bracelets; hara--with garlands; keyura--armlets; mukutaih--and helmets; usnisaih--with turbans; ca--also; maha-dhanaih--very valuable; astrtah--covered; tah--those; rana-bhuvah--battlefield; rejuh--began to glimmer; vira--of the heroes; manah-harah--bewildering the minds.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, the heads of those who were cut to pieces by the arrows of Dhruva Maharaja were decorated very beautifully with earrings and turbans. The legs of their bodies were as beautiful as golden palm trees, their arms were decorated with golden bracelets and armlets, and on their heads there were very valuable helmets bedecked with gold. All these ornaments lying on that battlefield were very attractive and could bewilder the mind of a hero.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   It appears that in those days soldiers used to go to the battlefield highly decorated with golden ornaments and with helmets and turbans, and when they were dead the booty was taken by the enemy party. Their falling dead in battle with their many golden ornamental dresses was certainly a lucrative opportunity for the heroes on the battlefield.

 

                               TEXT 20

 

                                 TEXT

 

                     hatavasista itare ranajirad

                 rakso-ganah ksatriya-varya-sayakaih

                    prayo vivrknavayava vidudruvur

                    mrgendra-vikridita-yuthapa iva

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hata-avasistah--the remaining soldiers who were not killed; itare--others; rana-ajirat--from the battlefield; raksah-ganah--the Yaksas; ksatriya-varya--of the greatest of the ksatriyas, or warriors; sayakaih--by the arrows; prayah--mostly; vivrkna--cut to pieces; avayavah--their bodily limbs; vidudruvuh--fled; mrgendra--by a lion; vikridita--being defeated; yuthapah--elephants; iva--like.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The remaining Yaksas who somehow or other were not killed had their limbs cut to pieces by the arrows of the great warrior Dhruva Maharaja. Thus they began to flee, just as elephants flee when defeated by a lion.

 

                               TEXT 21

 

                                 TEXT

 

                     apasyamanah sa tadatatayinam

                   maha-mrdhe kancana manavottamah

                  purim didrksann api navisad dvisam

                   na mayinam veda cikirsitam janah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   apasyamanah--while not observing; sah--Dhruva; tada--at that time; atatayinam--armed opposing soldiers; maha-mrdhe--in that great battlefield; kancana--any; manava-uttamah--the best of the human beings; purim--the city; didrksan--wishing to see; api--although; na avisat--did not enter; dvisam--of the enemies; na--not; mayinam--of the mystics; veda--knows; cikirsitam--the plans; janah--anyone.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Dhruva Maharaja, the best of human beings, observed that in that great battlefield not one of the opposing soldiers was left standing with proper weapons. He then desired to see the city of Alakapuri, but he thought to himself, "No one knows the plans of the mystic Yaksas."

 

                               TEXT 22

 

                                 TEXT

 

                iti bruvams citra-rathah sva-sarathim

                  yattah paresam pratiyoga-sankitah

                   susrava sabdam jaladher iveritam

                  nabhasvato diksu rajo 'nvadrsyata

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   iti--thus; bruvan--talking; citra-rathah--Dhruva Maharaja, whose chariot was very beautiful; sva-sarathim--to his charioteer; yattah--being on guard; paresam--from his enemies; pratiyoga--counterattack; sankitah--being apprehensive; susrava--heard; sabdam--sound; jaladheh--from the ocean; iva--as if; iritam--resounded; nabhasvatah--because of wind; diksu--in all directions; rajah--dust; anu--then; adrsyata--was perceived.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In the meantime, while Dhruva Maharaja, doubtful of his mystic enemies, was talking with his charioteer, they heard a tremendous sound, as if the whole ocean were there, and they found that from the sky a great dust storm was coming over them from all directions.

 

                               TEXT 23

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        ksanenacchaditam vyoma

                         ghananikena sarvatah

                        visphurat-tadita diksu

                        trasayat-stanayitnuna

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ksanena--within a moment; acchaditam--was covered; vyoma--the sky; ghana--of dense clouds; anikena--with a mass; sarvatah--everywhere; visphurat--dazzling; tadita--with lightning; diksu--in all directions; trasayat--threatening; stanayitnuna--with thundering.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Within a moment the whole sky was overcast with dense clouds, and severe thundering was heard. There was glittering electric lightning and severe rainfall.

 

                               TEXT 24

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        vavrsu rudhiraughasrk-

                        puya-vin-mutra-medasah

                         nipetur gaganad asya

                       kabandhany agrato 'nagha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vavrsuh--showered; rudhira--of blood; ogha--an inundation; asrk--mucus; puya--pus; vit--stool; mutra--urine; medasah--and marrow; nipetuh--began to fall; gaganat--from the sky; asya--of Dhruva; kabandhani--trunks of bodies; agratah--in front; anagha--O faultless Vidura.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   My dear faultless Vidura, in that rainfall there was blood, mucus, pus, stool, urine and marrow falling heavily before Dhruva Maharaja, and there were trunks of bodies falling from the sky.

 

                               TEXT 25

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       tatah khe 'drsyata girir

                        nipetuh sarvato-disam

                       gada-parigha-nistrimsa-

                        musalah sasma-varsinah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tatah--thereafter; khe--in the sky; adrsyata--was visible; girih--a mountain; nipetuh--fell down; sarvatah-disam--from all directions; gada--clubs; parigha--iron bludgeons; nistrimsa--swords; musalah--maces; sa-asma--great pieces of stone; varsinah--with a shower of.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Next, a great mountain was visible in the sky, and from all directions hailstones fell, along with lances, clubs, swords, iron bludgeons and great pieces of stone.

 

                               TEXT 26

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         ahayo 'sani-nihsvasa

                      vamanto 'gnim rusaksibhih

                       abhyadhavan gaja mattah

                      simha-vyaghras ca yuthasah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ahayah--serpents; asani--thunderbolts; nihsvasah--breathing; vamantah--vomiting; agnim--fire; rusa-aksibhih--with angry eyes; abhyadhavan--came forward; gajah--elephants; mattah--mad; simha--lions; vyaghrah--tigers; ca--also; yuthasah--in groups.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Dhruva Maharaja also saw many big serpents with angry eyes, vomiting forth fire and coming to devour him, along with groups of mad elephants, lions and tigers.

 

                               TEXT 27

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       samudra urmibhir bhimah

                       plavayan sarvato bhuvam

                         asasada maha-hradah

                        kalpanta iva bhisanah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   samudrah--the sea; urmibhih--with waves; bhimah--fierce; plavayan--inundating; sarvatah--in all directions; bhuvam--the earth; asasada--came forward; maha-hradah--making great sounds; kalpa-ante--(the dissolution) at the end of a kalpa; iva--like; bhisanah--fearful.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Then, as if it were the time of the dissolution of the whole world, the fierce sea with foaming waves and great roaring sounds came forward before him.

 

                               TEXT 28

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         evam-vidhany anekani

                        trasanany amanasvinam

                         sasrjus tigma-gataya

                          asurya mayayasurah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   evam-vidhani--(phenomena) like this; anekani--many varieties of; trasanani--fearful; amanasvinam--to the less intelligent men; sasrjuh--they created; tigma-gatayah--of heinous nature; asurya--demoniac; mayaya--by illusion; asurah--the demons.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The demon Yaksas are by nature very heinous, and by their demoniac power of illusion they can create many strange phenomena to frighten one who is less intelligent.

 

                               TEXT 29

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       dhruve prayuktam asurais

                        tam mayam atidustaram

                        nisamya tasya munayah

                        sam asamsan samagatah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dhruve--against Dhruva; prayuktam--inflicted; asuraih--by the demons; tam--that; mayam--mystic power; ati-dustaram--very dangerous; nisamya--after hearing; tasya--his; munayah--the great sages; sam--good fortune; asamsan--giving encouragement for; samagatah--assembled.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the great sages heard that Dhruva Maharaja was overpowered by the illusory mystic tricks of the demons, they immediately assembled to offer him auspicious encouragement.

 

                               TEXT 30

 

                                 TEXT

 

                             munaya ucuh

               auttanapada bhagavams tava sarngadhanva

                devah ksinotv avanatarti-haro vipaksan

               yan-namadheyam abhidhaya nisamya caddha

               loko 'njasa tarati dustaram anga mrtyum

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   munayah ucuh--the sages said; auttanapada--O son of King Uttanapada; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tava--your; sarnga-dhanva--one who bears the bow called Sarnga; devah--the Lord; ksinotu--may He kill; avanata--of the surrendered soul; arti--the distresses; harah--who removes; vipaksan--enemies; yat--whose; namadheyam--holy name; abhidhaya--uttering; nisamya--hearing; ca--also; addha--immediately; lokah--persons; anjasa--fully; tarati--overcome; dustaram--insurmountable; anga--O Dhruva; mrtyum--death.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   All the sages said: Dear Dhruva, O son of King Uttanapada, may the Supreme Personality of Godhead known as Sarngadhanva, who relieves the distresses of His devotees, kill all your threatening enemies. The holy name of the Lord is as powerful as the Lord Himself. Therefore, simply by chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord, many men can be fully protected from fierce death without difficulty. Thus a devotee is saved.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The great rsis approached Dhruva Maharaja at a time when his mind was very perplexed due to the magical feats exhibited by the Yaksas. A devotee is always protected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By His inspiration only, the sages came to encourage Dhruva Maharaja and assure him that there was no danger because he was a soul fully surrendered to the Supreme Lord. By the grace of the Lord, if a devotee, at the time of death, can simply chant His holy name--Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare--simply by chanting this maha-mantra, he immediately surpasses the great ocean of the material sky and enters the spiritual sky. He never has to come back for repetition of birth and death. Simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord, one can surpass the ocean of death, so Dhruva Maharaja was certainly able to surpass the illusory magical feats of the Yaksas, which for the time being disturbed his mind.

 

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fourth Canto, Tenth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "Dhruva Maharaja's Fight With the Yaksas."


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