*SKANDHA III., CHAP. 20.*
Vidura asked Maitreya: How did Marichi and other Rishis and also
Svayambhuva Manu carry out Brahma's orders to create.
Maitreya continued the story of Creation in reply to Vidura.
We have heard of the primal dark creation of Brahma, consisting of
five-fold Avidya. Referring to that, Maitreya said, it was a creation of
shadows. Brahma was not pleased with this shadowy creation. He gave up
the dark body and it became night, At that time Yakshas and Rakshasas
were born and they took it up. The body was not only dark, but it was
the seat of hunger and thirst. The new-born therefore in their hunger
and thirst ran after Brahma to devour Him. Some of them said: "Have no
mercy on Him as father." Others said "Devour him." Brahma became afraid
of them and said -- "Save me. You are my sons. You should not devour
me." Those that said "Devour" are Yakshas and those that said "Do not
save him" are Rakshasas. Brahma then created the Devas, with His radiant
Satvika body.
This body when given up became day and the playing Devas took it up.
Brahma then created the Asuras out of His thigh. They became extremely
passionate and ran after Brahma void of all shame. In great distress
Brahma prayed to Vishnu and the Creator was told to give up His body of
passion. The body was given up and it became Sandhya, or evening. The
Asuras accepted Sandhya as their wife. Evening is the time for lust and
passion. Brahma then created the Gandharvas and Apsaras with His body of
beauty, which when given up became Moon-light. With his indolence,
Brahma created the Bhutas and Pisachas. They were stark naked and had
long loose hair. Brahma closed his eyes on seeing them. After a time he
gave up his yawning body and the Bhutas and Pishachas took it up. The
body that causes secretion is called "Sleep."
That which causes delusion is "Madness." Indolence, yawning, sleep and
madness all these four were taken up by Bhutas and Pisachas for their
body. Brahma knew His powers and He created with His invisible body the
Sadhyas and Pitris. By His power of becoming invisible, He created
Siddhas and Vidhyadharas and gave them His body with that power. By His
reflected image He created the Kinnaras and Kimpurushas, who took up
that image for their body. At dawn, they sing in pairs the praise of
Brahma. Brahma did not find any progress in creation with all these
Bhoga (expansive) bodies. He threw away His body and from His hair the
elemental serpents or Nagas were born. After all, Brahma created the
Manus and Rishis.