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 ||
برہما جہانوں کو—ندیوں اور سمندروں کو، سمتوں کو، پہاڑوں اور نباتات کو؛ نیز انسانوں، کِنّروں اور راکشسوں کو؛ اور اڑنے، چلنے اور رینگنے والے تمام جانداروں کو—پرندوں، چوپایوں، جنگلی جانوروں اور سانپوں کو—پیدا کرتا ہے۔ وہ لازوال اور فانی—ساکن اور متحرک—اس دوہری تخلیق کو بھی ظاہر کرتا ہے۔
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.