Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 40
Daśa-lakṣaṇam: The Ten Topics, Virāṭ-Puruṣa Sense-Manifestation, and the Supreme Shelter (Āśraya)
प्रजापतीन्मनून् देवानृषीन् पितृगणान् पृथक् । सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वान् विद्याध्रासुरगुह्यकान् ॥ ३७ ॥ किन्नराप्सरसो नागान् सर्पान् किम्पुरुषान्नरान् । मातृ रक्ष:पिशाचांश्च प्रेतभूतविनायकान् ॥ ३८ ॥ कूष्माण्डोन्मादवेतालान् यातुधानान् ग्रहानपि । खगान्मृगान् पशून् वृक्षान् गिरीन्नृप सरीसृपान् ॥ ३९ ॥ द्विविधाश्चतुर्विधा येऽन्ये जलस्थलनभौकस: । कुशलाकुशला मिश्रा: कर्मणां गतयस्त्विमा: ॥ ४० ॥
prajā-patīn manūn devān ṛṣīn pitṛ-gaṇān pṛthak siddha-cāraṇa-gandharvān vidyādhrāsura-guhyakān
O King, all other beings dwelling in water, on land, and in the sky—of two kinds and of four kinds, in auspicious, inauspicious, or mixed conditions—are the courses of karma; all are created by the Supreme Lord according to their past deeds.
The varieties of living entities are mentioned in this list, and, with no exception from the topmost planet down to the lowest planet of the universe, all of them in different species of life are created by the Almighty Father, Viṣṇu. Therefore no one is independent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the Bhagavad-gītā (14.4) the Lord therefore claims all living entities as His offspring in the following verse:
FAQs
This verse lists many categories of beings—celestial, human, animal, plant, and subtle entities—and concludes that these are karma’s destinations, which manifest as auspicious, inauspicious, or mixed results.
In the chapter on the Bhāgavatam’s ten topics, Śukadeva explains how creation and embodied life unfold, showing Parīkṣit that the universe contains varied life-forms and realms shaped by karmic outcomes.
Actions have consequences that shape one’s future condition; therefore cultivate auspicious karma aligned with dharma and, above all, bhakti so life moves toward purification rather than mixed or harmful results.