286
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 4, Ch. 8]
was the second, but the great sage Maitreya immediately began to speak of Dhruva Mahārāja, the son of Uttānapāda, because he was very eager to describe pious activities. The incidents in the life of Dhruva Mahārāja are very attractive for devotees. From his pious actions, one can learn how one can detach himself from material possessions and how one can enhance one's devotional service by severe austerities and penances. By hearing the activities of pious Dhruva, one can enhance one's faith in God and can directly connect with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus one can very soon be elevated to the transcendental platform of devotional service. The example of Dhruva Mahārāja's austerities can immediately generate a feeling of devotional service in the hearts of the hearers.
TEXT 9
एकदा सुरुचेः पुत्रमङ्कुमारोप्य लालयन् । उत्तमं नारुरुक्षन्तं ध्रुवं राजाभ्यनन्दत ॥ ९ ॥
ekadā suruceḥ putram aṅkam āropya lālayan uttamam nārurukṣantam dhruvam rājābhyanandata
ekadā —once upon a time;  suruceḥ —of Queen Suruci;  putram —the son;  aṅkam —on the lap;  āropya —placing;  lālayan —while patting;  uttamam —Uttama;  na —did not;  ārurukṣantam —trying to get on;  dhruvam —Dhruva;  rājā —the King;  abhyanandata —welcome.
TRANSLATION
Once upon a time, King Uttānapāda was patting the son of Suruci, Uttama, placing him on his lap. Dhruva Mahārāja was also trying to get on his lap, but the King did not very much welcome him.
TEXT 10
तथा चिकीर्षमाणं तं सपत्न्यास्तनयं ध्रुवम् । सुरुचिः शृण्वतो राज्ञः सेष्यमाहातिगविता ॥ १० ॥
tathā cikīrṣamāṇam tam sapatnyās tanayam dhruvam suruciḥ śṛṇvato rājñaḥ serṣyam āhātigarvitā