Stuti of the Devas to Vishṇu after Madhu
Madhusūdana Stuti, “the praise of the slayer of Madhu”
The stuti of the devas to Vishṇu after Madhu is the praise that the devas offered Bhagavān Vishṇu when he had slain the daitya Madhu and sesame had arisen from his limbs. They praise him as the one who bears, creates and withdraws the world, and ask his protection. Śrī Kṛshṇa tells it to Yudhishṭhira in the Uttara Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa, in the teaching on the gift of the mountain of sesame.
The occasion
Śrī Kṛshṇa says that sesame is most pure and purifies even the pure, for it arose from the body of Bhagavān Vishṇu. Madhu and Kaiṭabha were sons of Diti. The battle of Madhu with Bhagavān Vishṇu went on without pause, and still the dānava did not die. In that fierce battle drops of sweat fell from the body of Bhagavān Vishṇu to the earth and scattered, and from them arose sesame, māsha (black gram) and kuśa grass. Bhagavān Vishṇu slew Madhu, mightiest of the mighty, and the whole earth was dyed with Madhu’s meda (fat); so the earth came to be named Medinī.
The stuti
When Madhu was slain, all the devas, delighted, praised Bhagavān Vishṇu:
“Deva, you alone bear the world. You alone created the world. Madhusūdana, this whole world dissolves at the end in you alone. For the good of the world this sesame has arisen from your own limbs. Deveśa, protect us all.”
Bhagavān Vishṇu’s answer
Hearing this stuti, Bhagavān Vishṇu said: “Devagaṇas, this sesame protects the three lokas. In the bright half of the month sesame water is to be given to the devas, and in the dark half to the pitṛs. By seven or eight handfuls of sesame water the devas and pitṛs are satisfied and bring good to the giver. A thing polluted by dogs, crows and the fallen becomes pure when sprinkled with sesame.”
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 198–199
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 198–199