Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/135

Rh steeply towards the North. Dhruv paused a moment, but a voice within him seemed to bid him follow the path. He did so, but it never seemed to end. It grew steeper and steeper and steeper. And King Dhruv would have fainted by the way had he not seemed to hear divine voices urging him onwards. Flowers too came floating on the breeze as if showered down by hands far above him. So he struggled on until at last he came to the abodes of the Sun and Moon.

"Stay with us, King Dhruv," cried the Sun-god and the Moon-god. There is no place beyond us. So stay with us and be welcome."

"Nay," said King Dhruv, "I must go until I reach the end of the path that stretches in front of me."

And indeed the path ran right through the abodes of the Moon-god and the Sun-god and lost itself in the distance beyond. So, weary with labour and years, Dhruv climbed upwards until he came to where the seven rishis lived.

"Stay with us, bold prince," cried the seven rishis. We need a mortal to whom to teach our lore." King Dhruv bowed to the seven rishis. "Incomparable sages," he replied, "if I could stay with you I gladly would, so that I could learn your priceless wisdom. But I desire to worship the god Krishna and until I find the place to which he directs me I must follow this path." So the king went on towards the North along the path which never seemed to end. And the seven sages watched him as he went. At last they saw him reach the end of the path. For it stopped suddenly and a bottomless chasm yawned in front of Dhruv. There they saw him sit down and cast up his eyes in silent adoration of the god whom he had loved and sought.