jaye uttanapadasya

sunitih surucis tayoh

surucih preyasi patyur

netara yat-suto dhruvah

 

Translation by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada: 

 

King Uttanapada had two queens, named Suniti and Suruci. Suruci was much more dear to the King; Suniti, who had a son named Dhruva, was not his favorite.

 

Purport by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada: 

 

The great sage Maitreya wanted to describe the pious activities of the kings. Priyavrata was the first son of Svayambhuva Manu, and Uttanapada was the second, but the great sage Maitreya immediately began to speak of Dhruva Maharaja, the son of Uttanapada, because Maitreya was very eager to describe pious activities. The incidents in the life of Dhruva Maharaja 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 Maharaja’s austerities can immediately generate a feeling of devotional service in the hearts of the hearers.