King Uttanapada had two queens, Suniti and Suruchi. Suniti’s son was Dhruv and Suruchi’s son was Uttam. The king favoured Suruchi.
One day Uttam was sitting on his father’s lap. Dhruv wanted to climb onto it too, but Suruchi stopped him and said harshly, “If you want your father’s lap, worship God and be born as my son in your next life.”
Hurt and in tears, Dhruv went to his mother Suniti. She held him close and said, “My son, the one who finds no support anywhere takes refuge in God. He is the greatest father of all.”
Five-year-old Dhruv set off for the forest. On the way the sage Narada met him and tried to persuade him that he was far too young, but Dhruv stayed firm. Narada then taught him the mantra “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya”.
Dhruv performed severe penance at Madhuvan on the bank of the Yamuna. According to the story, Lord Vishnu was soon pleased and appeared before him. Dhruv could not speak, so the Lord touched him with his conch, and words of praise flowed from his lips.
The Lord blessed him to rule for a long time and finally attain an unshakable place. That place is said to be the Pole Star in the sky, which stays fixed in its position.