Shloka 1
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 53: Arjuna’s Jayadratha-vadha Pratijñā and Droṇa’s Protective Vyūha (शकटा-पद्म व्यूहः)
इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत द्रोणपर्वके अन्तर्गत अभिमन्युवधपर्वमें बावनवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ ॥/ ५२ ॥। प्याज बछ। -ज्:डि त्रिपञज्चाशत्तमोड्ध्याय: शंकर और ब्रह्माका संवाद, मृत्युकी उत्पत्ति तथा उसे समस्त प्रजाके संहारका कार्य सौंपा जाना स्थायुरुवाच प्रजासर्गनिमित्तं हि कृतो यत्नस्त्वया विभो । त्वया सृष्ट श्र वृद्धाश्व भूतग्रामा: पृथग्विधा:,स्थाणु (रुद्रदेव)-ने कहा--प्रभो! आपने प्रजाकी सृष्टिके लिये स्वयं ही यत्न किया है। आपने ही नाना प्रकारके प्राणिसमुदायकी सृष्टि एवं वृद्धि की है
sthāṇur uvāca | prajāsarga-nimittaṃ hi kṛto yatnas tvayā vibho | tvayā sṛṣṭāś ca vṛddhāś ca bhūta-grāmāḥ pṛthag-vidhāḥ ||
Thus, in the Śrī Mahābhārata’s Droṇa Parva, within the Abhimanyuvadha section, the fifty-second chapter is concluded. Then begins the fifty-third: the dialogue of Śaṅkara and Brahmā, the arising of Death, and the entrusting to it of the work of destroying all creatures. Sthāṇu (Rudra) said: “O Lord, you yourself undertook the effort for the sake of creating living beings. It is you who has brought forth—and caused to flourish—the many and varied communities of creatures.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Creation is presented as an intentional act requiring effort and stewardship; the Lord who creates also bears responsibility for the flourishing and ordering of diverse beings.
Within the Śaṅkara–Brahmā dialogue frame, Sthāṇu (Rudra) addresses the Lord (contextually Brahmā), acknowledging that the latter has undertaken the work of generating and nurturing the many varieties of living beings.