Young Dhruva, the son of King Uttanapada, was once cruelly insulted by his stepmother, Suruchi. She told him that to sit on his father's throne, he must first die and be reborn from her womb. Deeply hurt, Dhruva went to his mother Suniti, who told him that only the Supreme Lord Narayana could help him.

At the tender age of five, Dhruva left for the forest. On the way, he met Narada Muni, who initiated him into the mantra: 'Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya'.

Dhruva went to Madhuvan and performed such intense penance that he eventually stopped breathing. This caused the entire universe to suffocate. Pleased by his unmatched determination, Lord Vishnu appeared before him on His eagle, Garuda.

When the Lord touched Dhruva's cheek with His conch, the boy was enlightened with perfect knowledge. He didn't ask for any material boon but only for eternal devotion. The Lord established him as the Dhruva Tara (Pole Star), the fixed point around which all celestial bodies revolve.