Bhagat Dhru

Bhagat Dhru -Translated from Sri Gur Bhagat Mala Steek by Giani Narain Singh Ji

1.     Sri Dhru Bhagat Ji

In the age of Satyug, there was a bhagat called Dhru. He was born in the house of King Uttanpad. His mother’s name was Suneeta. She was a religious and truthful woman. King Uttanpad had two wives. The younger wife, Suruchi was beautiful but was fickle minded and full of jealousy. She controlled the King and always kept him in her palace. She had a son as well who always played with the father. Suruchi never let Dhru play with his father. Dhru never got to enjoy the love of a father. A child who doesn’t get the fatherly love, the child’s upbringing is incomplete and will then go through series of mental distress.

Bhai Gurdaas Ji writes about the life of Bhagat Dhru in their Vaaran.

< siqgur pRswid]

One Oankar, the primal energy, realized through the grace of the divine preceptor

1 : DRU Bgq

One Oankar, the primal energy, realized through the grace of the divine preceptor

DRU hsdw Gir AwieAw kir ipAwru ipau kuCiV lIqw[

Boy Dhru came smiling to his house (palace) and his father full of love put him into his lap.

bwhhu pkiV auTwilAw mn ivic rosu mqRyeI kIqw[

Seeing this, the stepmother got angry and catching hold of his arm pushed him out of the lap of the father (the king).

fufhuilkw mW puCY qUM swvwxI hY ik surIqw?

Tearful with fear he asked his mother whether she was a queen or a maidservant?

swvwxI hW jnm dI nwmu n BgqI krim idRVHIqw[

O son! (said she) I was born queen but I did not remember God and did not undertake acts of devotion (and this is the reason of yours and mine plight).

iksu audm qy rwju imlY sqRU qy sB hovin mIqw?[

With that effort can the kingdom be had (asked Dhru) and how can enemies turn friends?

prmysru AwrwDIAY ijdU hoeIAY piqq punIqw[

The Lord should be worshipped and thus the sinners also become sacred ones (said the mother).

bwhir cilAw krix qpu mn bYrwgI hoie AqIqw[

Listening to this and getting totally detached in his mind Dhru went out (to the jungle) to undertake rigorous discipline.

nwrd muin aupdyisAw nwm inDwnu AimE rsu pIqw[

On the way, sage Narad taught him the technique of devotion and Dhru quaffed the nectar from the ocean of the Name of the Lord.

ipChuM rwjy sidAw Aibcl rwj krhu inq nIqw[

(After some time) King (Uttanpad) called him back and asked him (Dhru) to rule forever.

hwir cly gurmuiK jgjIqw ]1]

The gurmukhs who seem to be losing i.e. who turn their faces from the evil propensities, conquer the world.

Bhai Sahib Ji describes that one day, while playing with the children, Dhru went into the palace. He was very happy and was laughing away. The King saw his happy child and the fatherly instinct in him aroused. He carried Dhru and placed him on his lap. The king hugged him and caressed him. He spoke lovingly to his son. By this time, Suruchi came and she was burning with jealousy. She wanted her son to be the king, and not Dhru. When she saw Dhru in the King’s lap, she got angry, grabbed Dhru by his arm and said, ‘You cannot play in the King’s lap. Go away and never return to this palace!’

The king kept quiet. He didn’t say anything to his wife, Suruchi. He was captivated with the beauty and youth of his wife. The lust he had for his wife stopped him from correcting her misbehavior. He didn’t have the strength to tell her that as a father, it was his right to love and care for his son.

On the other hand, Dhru who was upset went running to his mother. He was wondering, why was he not allowed to sit in his father’s lap. He started crying. When Suneeta saw her son crying, she was worried. She carried him and put him on her lap and asked, ‘My son! What happened to you? Did anyone hit you? Why are you crying so much? Tell me.’

Dhru narrated the whole incident. ‘Alright my son. My beloved. You should not have sat in your father’s lap. You have no rights, my son.’ The queen hugged Dhru tightly, kissed his face. She was crying.

‘Mother, tell me truthfully, are you a queen or a maid? I cannot tell.’

‘Son, I am a queen, but..’, she kept quiet.

‘Then why can’t I sit in my own father’s lap?’

‘Because we didn’t do any devotional worship. Because we didn’t worship God, hence we are going through this. Wealth and power goes to those who worship God.’

‘Mother! Tell me then what should I do, that I can obtain the happiness of this kingdom? That nobody would remove me from the throne of this kingdom? That no one would scold me?’

‘Son, we should worship God, by meditating and worshipping God, you can obtain what you wish for.’

‘Alright then mother, I am going to meditate!’

‘Son, now is not the time for you to start meditating, you are still young. What will I do after you leave? How can I survive without seeing my son every day?’

Nightfall came, but Dhru was not feeling sleepy. He could see clearly the anger of his stepmother, how she grabbed him and scolded him. He got up and looked at his mother who was sleeping. Dhru decided to leave the house. No one saw him leaving the palace.

Barefooted, Dhru walked towards the forest. It was dark, but Dhru kept walking fearlessly. ‘God, I am coming. I do not know your name, I do not know what to call you, but I am coming!’ Dhru got tired, lied down and slept off. When his eyes opened, it was day time. With the sun rays, the whole forest was lighted up. Dhru got up, drank some water from the lake nearby, and said, ‘God, I am coming, I am coming!’

By this time, Narad Muni came. When Dhru saw Narad Muni, he asked, ‘Are you God?’

Narad: No child, I am not God. God lives far away, you cannot go there.

Dhru: Why can’t I go there?

Narad: You are still young. I know you are the son of King Uttanpad. Tapoban is far away. The way there is quite dangerous. You have to cross a dark forest. The wild animals will eat you. Your body will not be able to handle hunger, thirst, the hot and cold weather. Come my child, I will bring you back to your father. He will give you half of his kingdom.

Dhru, laughingly said: I have not met God, and I already can obtain half the kingdom. If I do meet God, then definitely I would get the whole kingdom. Look here, I do not know you, but if you are stopping me from meditating on God’s Name, then you are my enemy. Please leave me.

Narad Muni was surprised to hear this response from a young boy. He looked at the child and thought, ‘He must be a great devotee in the form of a child.’ ‘Alright child, you are right, to do devotional worship is the greatest action. Remember this mantr, ‘Om Namo Bhagvatey Vasudevya’ and close your eyes and focus on ‘Keshav Kalesh Hari’. Through this mantr, you will face no trouble and all you task shall be done effortlessly. After giving this advice, Narad Muni disappeared. Dhru walked for a bit and sat on a stone and meditated.

On the other hand, Queen Suneeta got up and looked around. When she didn’t see her son beside her, she got worried and started looking. “Dhru, my son, where are you?’ All the servants heard and started looking for Dhru. This news of Dhru’s disappearance reached King Uttanpad.  He was about to leave to the palace of Queen Suneeta that Queen Suruchi stopped him. ‘Don’t go! They can find Dhru themselves. He must have played a trick to worry you.’

King Uttanpad stopped, and by this time, Narad Muni came, and walked towards the King and said, ‘Hari Narayan.’ ‘Oh King, what is the matter today, you look shocked, did Queen Suruchi scold you?’ After listening to this, King Uttanpad was ashamed. King bowed down and said, ‘Narad Muni, I am worried as my son, Dhru is missing.’ He told the story of what happened the day before with Queen Suruchi.

‘Hari Narayan’, said Narad Muni. ‘Oh King, your son is not lost. He has reached Tapoban and is doing devotional meditation. You hurt the child’s heart. Oh King! You have been mistaken. You have been blinded with attachment to power, and lust for your wife. You have become the slave of youth and lust. You didn’t give love to your son, and hurt the feelings of Queen Suneeta. Hence, you shall always be in sorrow and pain. Your son, Dhru, is doing meditation on ‘Keshav Kalesh’ and will obtain the kingdom.’

Upon hearing this, King Uttanpad felt ashamed and was surprised to hear about Dhru. He asked Narad Muni, ‘Is it true that Dhru has gone? This is bad news. Please bring him back. I am ready to give half of my kingdom to him.’ Narad said, ‘Oh King, look, Dhru will definitely do his meditation.’

After this, Narad Muni went to see Queen Suneeta. He consoled her and said, ‘Oh Queen, don’t worry, be happy. Your son will become a Bhagat.’ King Uttanpad went to the forest and tried to bribe and lure Dhru to come back, but he failed. After King Uttanpad left, Dhru gained more faith and trust that meditating is the right thing to do. He started worshipping God.

King Indra tried many ways to stop the worship of Bhagat Dhru, but Dhru didn’t waver. Kind Indra got scared and went to see Vishnu. Vishnu explained to King Indra that Dhru doesn’t wish for Indra’s kingdom, only his father’s. King Indra felt relieved and went to his palace.

Vishnu went to Tapoban and took form in front of Dhru. Vishnu was very happy and gave blessings to Dhru. Vishnu said, ‘Go, the kingdom is yours. You will rule for 26,000 years and you shall be known until the end of this universe.’ Dhru came back to his palace and King Uttanpad gave the kingdom to Dhru. Dhru ruled for 26000 years.

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