The story of Dhruva from Bhagavata Purana
Svayambhuva Manu had two sons, Priyavrata and Uttanapada, both of whom became kings. King Uttanapada had two wives, Suniti and Suruchi. Uttanapada was fond of Suruchi more than Suniti. Suniti had a son named Dhruva and Suruchi had a son named Uttama.
One day, Uttama played with his father on his throne. Dhruva came to the throne and also wanted to sit on his father’s lap. But Suruchi said, “What do you think you’re doing? The king’s lap and his throne are reserved for my son. You are not my son, so go away.”
Dhruva started crying and went to his mother who said,.“Son, do not be unhappy. Pray to God for salvation.” As he traveled, Dhruva met Narada who told him that he was too small to perform tapasya, but Dhruva was determined. Dhruva’s resolve pleased Narada who also taught Dhruva an incantation and advised him to go to a grove on the banks of the river Yamuna and pray to Lord Vishnu.
Dhruva began his tapasya undisturbed. He ate fruit once every three days for the first month, once every five days during the second month, and once every nine days in the third month. In the fifth month, Dhruva survived only on air. Dhruva stood praying on one leg and saw nothing but Lord Vishnu everywhere. Vishnu, pleased with Dhruva, appeared before Dhruva and granted him a boon. Dhruva desired to attain a position that no one had reached before.
Vishnu created a place Dhruvaloka in the skies. Dhruva would eventually become the pole star and all other stars would revolve around him. At the end of a kalpa or cycle, when everything was destroyed, Dhruvaloka would still exist. After granting his boon, Vishnu told Dhruva to return to his family because he would rule the kingdom for thirty-six thousand years and that his brother would get lost while he was on a hunting expedition.
Dhruva thanked Vishnu and returned to his father who was happy to have him back. The two princes, Uttama and Dhruva, embraced each other and grew up together. When Uttanapada retired to the forest, he passed on the kingdom to his son Dhruva.
One day, Uttama went on a hunt and was killed by a yaksha. Dhruva set out to avenge his brother’s death. Yaksha soldiers attacked Dhruva with maya, but he killed many of them with his mighty weapon, the Narayanastra.
Several sages came to Dhruva and said, “Why are you killing innocent yakshas? It is a sin. Control your anger; only one yaksha killed your brother. Besides, your brother was destined to die, so why blame the yaksha who was the instrument?”
Dhruva seeing the wisdom in these words, ceased to fight and Kubera himself came to Dhruva and offered to him a boon. Dhruva wished to always remain loyal to Lord Vishnu. Dhruva returned to his kingdom, performed many sacrifices, and ruled well until he grew tired of the material life, and left the kingdom for a hermitage to perform yoga. A vimana descended from the sky and carried Dhruva to Dhruvaloka created by Lord Vishnu.