Reading Notes: The Tale of the Pole Star, Part B

Uttanpad was a king who lived in India, he had 2 wives. One was named Suniti and the other was named Suruchi.. one had a beautiful personality but was neglected, while the other had a beautiful face and was not neglected. He had a son by Suruchi named Uttam (6) and by Suniti had a son named Dhruv (5). They got qualities from their mother. One day Suruchi pushed Dhruv over when he was being told a story by Uttanpad, because she was furious and told him to go pray to the gods. He went into the forest to pray and stayed there for many years until Krishna appeared. Krishna told him that he had to rule his father's kingdom and make people happy before he could go with him to heaven. Narada was summonsed by Krishna who directed him to lead Dhruv back to town. Suruchi and Uttam were both displeased with his arrival and were extremely jealous. Finally, Uttanpad rebuked Uttam who became even more furious. He begged and was given permission by his father to go to the forest with the army to fight a rivalry army but was told that he must take orders from the general. He decided not to and was lured to his death by the tribesmen within the forest. Dhruv was sent out to avenge the tribesmen and was successful. After years passed Dhruv was crowned king and Uttanpad went to the forest to live until it was his time to die. His people were happy but he was sad and thought of when he was young and worshipped Krishna, he longed to be with Krishna. He gave the kingdom to his son and returned to his old home in the forest to find a northern path. He followed the path which got higher and higher from the ground, he finally came upon the Sun and the Moon. He continued on to when he came to where the seven rishis lived. He didn't stop there and kept on the path to the end where he sat down and looked up at Krishna. He gradually became a shining object, the Rishis who watched him also became shining stars. The Great Bear is also called the Seven Sages and Dhruv is the Pole Star.

The Great Bear also known as the Seven Sages Constellation

Source: Tales from the Indian Epics, C.A. Kincaid (1918).