Chapter 3.88, Verses 1–11

Yoga Vashishtha 3.88.1–11

(These verses teach that the Supreme Reality, represented by Brahma, is completely free from desire, effort, and personal need)

श्रीब्रह्मोवाच।

ब्रह्माणो ब्राह्मणा भानुरित्युक्त्वा ब्रह्मणो मम।

ब्रह्मन्ब्रह्मविदां श्रेष्ठ तूष्णीमेव बभूव सः ॥ १॥

तत उक्तं मया तस्य चिरं संचिन्त्य चेतसा।

भानो भानो वदाशु त्वं किमन्यत्संसृजाम्यहम् ॥ २॥

एतानि दश विद्यन्ते किल यत्र जगन्ति वै।

तत्रान्यो मम सर्गेण कोऽर्थः कथय भास्कर ॥ ३॥

इत्युक्तोऽथ मया भानुः संचिन्त्य सुचिरं धिया।

इदमत्र वचो युक्तमुवाच स महामुने ॥ ४॥

भानुरुवाच।

निरीहस्य निरिच्छस्य कोऽर्थः सर्गेण ते प्रभो।

विनोदमात्रमेवेदं सृष्टिस्तव जगत्पते ॥ ५॥

निष्कामादेव भवतः सर्गः संपद्यते प्रभो।

अर्कादिव जलादित्यप्रतिबिम्बमिवाधियः ॥ ६॥

शरीरसंनिवेशस्य त्यागे रागे च ते यदा।

निष्कामो भगवन्भावो नाभिवाञ्छति नोज्झति ॥ ७॥

सृजसीदं तथा देव विनोदायैव भूतप।

पुनः संहृत्य संहृत्य दिनं दिनपतिर्यथा ॥ ८॥

तव नित्यमसंसक्तं विनोदायैव केवलम्।

इदं कर्तव्यमेवेति जगन्न तूद्यमेच्छया ॥ ९॥

सृष्टिं चेन्न करोषि त्वं महेश परमात्मनः।

नित्यकर्मपरित्यागात्किमपूर्वमवाप्स्यसि ॥ १०॥

यथाप्राप्तं हि कर्तव्यमसक्तेन सदा सता।

मुकुरेणाकलङ्केन प्रतिबिम्बक्रिया यथा ॥ ११॥

Lord Brahma said: 

3.88.1–4

> O best among the Knowers of Brahm, after telling me about the Brahmas, the Brahmanas and the Sun, he became completely silent.

> Then, after thinking for a long time in my mind, I said to him: O Sun, O Sun, tell me quickly—what else shall I create?

> Tell me, O Sun, since these ten worlds already exist, what other purpose is there for me to create anything more?

> O great Sage, when I spoke thus, the Sun thought for a very long time with his intellect and then spoke these fitting words.

Suryadev said: 

3.88.5–11

> O Lord, you who are free from effort and free from desire—what purpose does Creation serve for you? O Lord of the World, this Creation of yours is only for play.

> O Lord, Creation arises spontaneously from you who are truly free from desire, just as the reflection of the Sun appears in water from the Sun itself, and likewise from the intellect.

> O Lord, when your Nature is free from desire regarding both attachment to and abandonment of the body’s form, then it neither desires nor rejects anything.

> O God, O protector of Beings, you create this World only for play, and you withdraw it again and again, just as the Sun brings forth and ends each day.

> This World is always unattached for you and is only for play. It is done simply as something that must be done, and not out of any desire for effort.

> O great Lord, if you, the Supreme Self, do not perform Creation, what new benefit will you gain by abandoning your regular action?

> Whatever comes naturally should always be done by a true person who remains unattached, just as a spotless mirror simply reflects images.

Summary of the teachings:

Creation does not arise from any lack or craving. It happens spontaneously, like the Sun’s reflection appearing in water without the Sun trying to produce it. The Creator remains untouched by attachment or rejection toward the body or the World.

The World is described as pure play or sport. Just as the Sun rises and sets each day without personal motive, the Divine creates and withdraws the Universe again and again only for the Joy of expression. There is no binding purpose, no gain to be sought, and no loss to be feared.

Even though the Creator is free from desire, the verses stress that regular action should not be abandoned. Stopping Creation would bring no special advantage. Duty that arises naturally is simply to be performed. Inactivity for its own sake is not higher than action done without attachment.

The ideal attitude is compared to a clean mirror. A pure mirror reflects whatever stands before it without wanting the image or rejecting it. In the same way, the wise person, free from desire, carries out whatever task appears in the moment. Action continues, yet the doer remains unbound.

Taken together, the teaching points to a life of effortless activity. One remains inwardly free and desireless while still fulfilling the natural flow of duties. Creation, work, and daily life become expressions of pure being rather than means to satisfy personal wants. This balance of inner detachment and outer action is presented as the True Nature of the liberated State.