Dhruva was the son of King Uttanpad. The king had two wives: Suruchi and Suniti. Suruchi had a son named Uttam and Suniti had two sons. Dhruva was Suniti’s eldest son. Suruchi was the king’s favorite queen. Whilst the king loved her and her son Uttam, he ignored Suniti and her son. Once, Uttam sat in his father’s lap. Dhruva too tried to sit beside his stepbrother. At this Suruchi shouted to him, “You cannot sit there. If you want to sit in the king’s lap you shall have to prove your worthiness and undergo serious penance.”
Dhruva could not bear the insult and he resolved to go to the forest and please Bhagwan Vishnu by praying to Him. On the way, he met Naradji, who tried to stop him. “You are just a small child. The forest is full of dangerous animals. How will you bear the winter’s cold and the summer heat? Go back home,” he said. Dhruva replied, “O learned sage! Even at the cost of my life and all the rigors of the forest, I will prove myself worthy to sit in the lap of the king, my father, by undergoing great Penance and pleasing God.” Penance means to fast, to meditate and to live a very simple life. Naradji was pleased with Dhruva’s dedication and fearlessness and he showed him the place and the method to practice penance. Then Dhruva reached a place in the forest called Madhuvan. He stood on one leg and started praying to God. Dhruva was so absorbed in his penance that the difficulties of forest life did not affect him at all. He had only one goal – to please and to meet God. He prayed for more than five months, standing on one leg. One day Bhagwan Vishnu was pleased with his devotion and He appeared before Dhruva. “I am pleased with your devotion, my child. Tell me, what do you wish?” Bhagwan Vishnu asked Dhruva.
“O God, I wish your blessings and love from my parents,” Dhruva replied.
“All your wishes shall be fulfilled my child.” Saying this he vanished.
Dhruva had achieved his goal. He had pleased God and had met him. Now he returned to the kingdom. The king welcomed Dhruva with full honor and respect. Suruchi, too, hugged Dhruva and he became everybody’s favorite.
Later, Dhruva was made the king and he served people with love and dedication.
Dhruva is remembered by all for his strong determination. God graced him with an eternal status in the heavens. Even today, we know him as the Dhruva star, the northern (pole) star.
[Courtesy: https://kids.baps.org/storytime/Dhruva.htm]