Devas’ Stotra to Devakī (Brahma Purāṇa)
Deva Kṛta Devakī Stotra · deva kṛta devakī stotra, “the stotra to Devakī sung by the devas”
The Devas‘ Stotra to Devakī is the praise that the devas offered day and night to Devakī, the wife of Vasudeva, while she bore Bhagavān Vishṇu in her womb before the birth of Śrī Kṛshṇa. It is found in the Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 182, where Vyāsa tells the munis of Śrī Kṛshṇa’s birth. In it the devas hail Devakī as the very form of Svāhā, Svadhā, Vidyā and Sudhā and of light itself, come down to earth to protect all the worlds, and ask her to bear with love the Īśvara who carries the whole world across saṃsāra.
The setting
Vyāsa tells the munis that Vishṇumāyā, the maker of the world, did as Bhagavān Vishṇu had commanded her: Devakī went through six births, and then Vishṇumāyā drew away the seventh child from her womb. After this Bhagavān Hari entered Devakī’s womb, and at the same time Yoganidrā was conceived in the womb of Yaśodā. The grahas moved into auspicious places, and as the aṃśa of Bhagavān Vishṇu came down to earth the seasons grew most beautiful.
Devakī’s face shone so brightly that no one could look at her, and the minds of those who saw her blazing were shaken. Bearing Bhagavān Vishṇu within her, with a divine radiance that no one could gaze at steadily, she was praised by the devas day and night.
The stotra
The devas said:
- “Devī, you are the form of Svāhā, the offering to the devas;
- of Svadhā, the offering to the pitṛs;
- of Vidyā, sacred knowledge;
- and of Sudhā, amṛta, the nectar of immortality.
- You are the form of jyoti, light.
- You have come down to the earth for the protection of all the worlds.
- Devī, be gracious. Do good to the whole world.
- Bear with love that Īśvara by whom the whole world is carried across.”
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 182
What followed
Praised in this way, the Mother bore in her womb Puṇḍarīkāksha, the lotus-eyed one, the cause of the world’s protection. Then, like the Sun rising to open the lotuses, Acyuta appeared from Devakī to make all the worlds bloom, at the time of the eastern twilight. As Janārdana, the support of the whole world, was being born at midnight, the clouds thundered softly and the devas showered flowers. He was the colour of the blooming blue water-lily, four-armed, with the Śrīvatsa mark on his chest.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 182
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 182