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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."