Various Creations (sṛṣṭi-vistāra) - Verse 228
Linga Purana (GRETIL / Wisdomlib) · 1 · Verse 70.228
Sanskrit Original
तेन ते कर्मणा यक्षा गुह्यका गूढकर्मणा। रक्षेति पालने चापि धातुरेष विभाष्यते।।
tena te karmaṇā yakṣā guhyakā gūḍhakarmaṇā| rakṣeti pālane cāpi dhātureṣa vibhāṣyate||
Sūta said: These hungry beings created by him attempted to seize the bodies of the lord. Some of them who said, “We will protect these bodies” were known as Rākṣasas. They were night-walkers who were overcome by hunger. Those who said, ‘We will eat them up,’ were called yakṣas as also guhyakas because of their secret activity. The root ‘rakṣ’ means ‘to protect’ and the root ‘yakṣ’ means ‘to eat.’ On observing this creation, the hair of the intelligent lord Brahmā became withered due to displeasure.