Yoga-kṛtya (योककृत्य) — Vyāsa on Sense-Restraint, Obstacles, and Brahman-Realization
लोकान् नदी: समुद्रांश्न दिश: शैलान् वनस्पतीन् । नरकिन्नररक्षांसि वयःपशुमृगोरगान् । अव्ययं च व्ययं चैव द्वयं स्थावरजजड्रमम्
lokān nadīḥ samudrāṁś ca diśaḥ śailān vanaspatīn | narakinnararakṣāṁsi vayaḥ-paśu-mṛgoragān | avyayaṁ ca vyayaṁ caiva dvayaṁ sthāvara-jaṅgamam | tad-anantaraṁ vai brahmā hi carācaraprāṇināṁ sṛṣṭiṁ karoti ||
Sinabi ni Vyāsa: Nililikha ni Brahmā ang mga daigdig—mga ilog at karagatan, ang mga direksiyon, mga bundok at mga halaman; mga nilalang gaya ng tao, mga Kinnara at mga Rākṣasa; at lahat ng nilalang na lumilipad, naglalakad, gumagapang, o lumalangoy—mga ibon, mga hayop na inaalagaan, mga mababangis na hayop, at mga ahas. Nililikha rin niya ang di-nasisira at ang nasisira: ang dalawang uri ng paglikha, ang di-gumagalaw at ang gumagalaw. Kaya, matapos maihanay ang mga unang simulain, si Brahmā ang nagiging kasangkapan kung saan nahahayag ang buong sambayanan ng mga nilalang—gumagalaw man o di-gumagalaw.
व्यास उवाच
The verse teaches a comprehensive, ordered view of creation: Brahmā is presented as the cosmic agent who manifests all categories of existence—geographical features, species, and supernatural classes—summarized as the twofold division of imperishable/perishable and immobile/mobile. Ethically, it supports a dharmic worldview in which life is interconnected within a structured cosmos, encouraging reverence and responsibility toward all beings.
In the Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Vyāsa explains the scope of Brahmā’s creative activity. He enumerates the constituents of the universe—worlds and natural features, then various beings—culminating in the philosophical classification of reality into avyaya/vyaya and sthāvara/jaṅgama, framing later discussion on order, duty, and right conduct.