पदं त्रिभुवनोत्कृष्टं जिगीषोः साधु वर्त्म मे ।
ब्रूह्यस्मत्पितृभिर्ब्रह्मन्नन्यैरप्यनधिष्ठितम् ॥३७॥

padaá¹ tri-bhuvanotkṛṣṭaá¹
jigīṣoḥ sÄdhu vartma me
brūhy asmat-pitṛbhir brahmann
anyair apy anadhiṣṭhitam

 padam - position; tri-bhuvana - the three worlds; utkṛṣṭam - the best; jigīṣoḥ - desirous; sÄdhu - honest; vartma - way; me - unto me; brÅ«hi - please tell; asmat - our; pitá¹›bhiḥ - by the forefathers, the father and grandfather; brahman - O great brÄhmaṇa; anyaiḥ - by others; api - even; anadhiṣṭhitam - not acquired.


Text

O learned brÄhmaṇa, I want to occupy a position more exalted than any yet achieved within the three worlds by anyone, even by my father and grandfather. If you will oblige, kindly advise me of an honest path to follow by which I can achieve the goal of my life.

Purport

When Dhruva MahÄrÄja refused to accept the brahminical instruction of NÄrada Muni, naturally the next question would be what sort of instruction he wanted. So even before NÄrada Muni asked, Dhruva MahÄrÄja expressed his heartfelt desire. His father, of course, was the emperor of the entire world, and his grandfather, Lord BrahmÄ, was the creator of the universe. Dhruva MahÄrÄja expressed his desire to possess a kingdom better than those of his father and grandfather. He frankly stated that he wanted a kingdom which had no competitor within the three worlds, namely the higher, middle and lower planetary systems. The greatest personality within this universe is Lord BrahmÄ, and Dhruva MahÄrÄja wanted a position even greater than his. He wanted to take advantage of NÄrada Muni’s presence because he knew very well that if NÄrada Muni, the greatest devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, could bless him or show him the path, then certainly he would be able to occupy a more exalted position than any person within the three worlds. Thus he wanted help from NÄradajÄ« to achieve that position. Dhruva MahÄrÄja wanted a position greater than that of BrahmÄ. This was practically an impossible proposition, but by pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead a devotee can achieve even the impossible.

One particular point mentioned here is that Dhruva MahÄrÄja wanted to occupy an exalted position not by hook or by crook, but by honest means. This indicates that if Kṛṣṇa offered him such a position, then he would accept it. That is the nature of a devotee. He may desire material gain, but he accepts it only if Kṛṣṇa offers it. Dhruva MahÄrÄja was sorry to refuse the instruction of NÄrada Muni; therefore he requested him to be merciful to him by showing a path by which he could fulfill his mind’s desires.