Text 42]
Dhruva Mahārāja Goes Back to Godhead
535
way, but it is not possible for them to attain to such an exalted position as Dhruva Mahārāja. As far as ordinary kings are concerned, it is not at all possible. The specific mention of kings is significant because formerly kings were also  rājarṣis , for the kings were as good as great sages. Dhruva Mahārāja was a king, and at the same time he was as learned as a great sage. But without devotional service, neither a great king, a  kṣatriya , nor a great  brāhmaṇa  strictly adhering to the Vedic principles can be elevated to the exalted position attained by Dhruva Mahārāja.
TEXT 42
यः पञ्चवर्षो गुरुदारवाक्शरै- 
  मिन्नेन यातो हृदयेन दृयता । 
  वनं मदादेशकरोऽजितं प्रभुं 
  जिगाय तद्भक्तगुणैः पराजितम् ॥४२॥
yaḥ pañca-varṣo guru-dāra-vāk-śarair  
 bhinnena yāto hṛdayena dūyatā  
 vanam mad-ādeśa-karo 'jitam prabhum  
 jigāya tad-bhakta-guṇaiḥ parājitam
yaḥ —he who;  pañca-varṣaḥ —at the age of five years;  guru-dāra —of the wife of his father;  vāk-śaraiḥ —by the harsh words;  bhinnena —being very much aggrieved;  yātaḥ —went;  hṛdayena —because his heart;  dūyatā —very much pained;  vanam —to the forest;  mat-ādeśa —according to my instruction;  karaḥ —acting;  ajitam —unconquerable;  prabhum —the Supreme Personality of Godhead;  jigāya —he defeated;  tat —His;  bhakta —of devotees;  guṇaiḥ —with the qualities;  parājitam —conquered.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Nārada continued: Just see how Dhruva Mahārāja, aggrieved at the harsh words of his stepmother, went to the forest at the age of only five years and under my direction underwent austerity. Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead is unconquerable, still he defeated Him with the specific qualifications possessed by the Lord's devotees.
PURPORT
The Supreme Godhead is unconquerable; no one can conquer the Lord. But He voluntarily accepts subordination to the devotional qualities of His devotees. For example, Lord Kṛṣṇa accepted subordination to the control