Brahmā’s Stotra to Vishṇu for the Matsya Avatāra
This is a short stotra (stuti) that Brahmā sang to Bhagavān Vishṇu when Madhu and Kaiṭabha had stolen the Vedas from him and he could not begin creation. Brahmā sang it while Bhagavān Vishṇu lay in yoga-nidrā (the sleep of yoga) on Ādiśesha. It is found in chapter 37 of the Narasiṃha Purāṇa. In it Brahmā praises Bhagavān Vishṇu as the storehouse of all Vedic knowledge, as Yajñamūrti (the form of yajña), as the Sāmaveda itself, and as the one who fills every heart with jñāna (knowledge).
The setting
At the start of creation Bhagavān Vishṇu lay in yoga-nidrā on Ādiśesha. Two drops of water fell from his ears into the first ocean. They became the two fierce daityas Madhu and Kaiṭabha.
Brahmā was born from the lotus on the navel of Bhagavān Vishṇu. He was told to go on with creation. But as soon as Brahmā began his work, Madhu and Kaiṭabha came and in one moment stole all his knowledge of the Vedas.
Without the Vedas and the śāstras Brahmā could not create, and he was overcome with grief. He sang this stuti to Bhagavān Vishṇu and asked him to give his knowledge back.
The stotra
Oṃ namo vedanidhaye śāstrāṇāṃ nidhaye namaḥ /
Vijñānanidhaye nityaṃ karmaṇāṃ nidhaye namaḥ
Oṃ. Salutations to the storehouse of the Vedas. Salutations to the storehouse of the śāstras. Salutations always to the storehouse of all vijñāna (higher knowledge). Salutations to the storehouse of all karma (action).
Vidyādhārāya devāya vāgīśāya namonamaḥ /
Cintyāya namo nityaṃ sarvajñāya namonamaḥ
Again and again salutations to the Deva who holds all vidyās (kinds of knowledge), the master of speech (Vāgīśa). Salutations always to the one who is to be meditated upon. Again and again salutations to the all-knowing one.
Amūrtis tvaṃ mahābāho yajñamūrtir adhokshaja /
Sāmnāṃ mūrtis tvam evādya sarvadā sarvarūpavān /
Sarvajñānamayo’si tvaṃ hṛdi jñānamayo’cyuta /
Dehi me tvaṃ sarvajñānaṃ devadeva namonamaḥ
O mighty-armed Adhokshaja, you are without form, yet you are the form of Yajña. Today you are the very form of the Sāmaveda, and you are always present in all forms. O Acyuta, you are made wholly of all knowledge. In the heart of every being you shine as pure jñāna. O Devadeva, give me all knowledge. Again and again salutations to you.
The result
Bhagavān Vishṇu was moved by the prayer of Brahmā. He promised that the Vedic knowledge would be given back. He saw that Madhu and Kaiṭabha had stolen it.
Bhagavān Vishṇu took the form of a huge Matsya (fish), many yojanas long, and plunged into the first ocean. He went down to Pātāla, where the daityas had hidden with the Vedic knowledge. With his māyā (power of illusion) he bewildered and charmed them. He took back the Vedas and the śāstras, brought them up and gave them to Brahmā.
Only after this Matsya avatāra could Brahmā begin creation.
Sources
- Narasiṃha Purāṇa, chapter 37