Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 5
Bhakti as the Supreme Process; Detachment and the Rudiments of Meditation
तेभ्य: पितृभ्यस्तत्पुत्रा देवदानवगुह्यका: । मनुष्या: सिद्धगन्धर्वा: सविद्याधरचारणा: ॥ ५ ॥ किन्देवा: किन्नरा नागा रक्ष:किम्पुरुषादय: । बह्वयस्तेषां प्रकृतयो रज:सत्त्वतमोभुव: ॥ ६ ॥ याभिर्भूतानि भिद्यन्ते भूतानां पतयस्तथा । यथाप्रकृति सर्वेषां चित्रा वाच: स्रवन्ति हि ॥ ७ ॥
tebhyaḥ pitṛbhyas tat-putrā deva-dānava-guhyakāḥ manuṣyāḥ siddha-gandharvāḥ sa-vidyādhara-cāraṇāḥ
От праотцов во главе с Бхригу Муни и от других сыновей Брахмы произошли многочисленные потомки, принявшие разные облики: полубоги, демоны, гухьяки, люди, сиддхи, гандхарвы, видьядхары, чараны, киндевы, киннары, наги, ракшасы, кимпуруши и прочие. Их природы и желания были различны, порождённые тремя гунами — раджасом, саттвой и тамасом; поэтому различались и существа, и их владыки. Из-за этого многообразия качеств в Ведах описаны многочисленные обряды, мантры и плоды.
If one is curious why Vedic literatures recommend so many different methods of worship and advancement, the answer is given here. Bhṛgu, Marīci, Atri, Aṅgirā, Pulastya, Pulaha and Kratu are the seven great brāhmaṇa sages and forefathers of this universe. The Kindevas are a race of human beings who are, like the demigods, completely free from fatigue, sweat and body odor. Seeing them, one may thus ask, kiṁ devāḥ: “Are they demigods?” Actually, they are human beings living on another planet within the universe. The Kinnaras are so called because they are kiñcin narāḥ, or “a little like human beings.” The Kinnaras have either a human head or human body (but not both) combined with a nonhuman form. The Kimpuruṣas are so called because they resemble human beings and thus prompt the question kiṁ puruṣāḥ: “Are these human beings?” Actually, they are a race of monkeys who are almost like human beings.
FAQs
In this verse, Lord Kṛṣṇa explains that various classes of beings—humans and many celestial orders—arise as descendants within the cosmic lineage, indicating a structured creation with many categories of life.
Kṛṣṇa is instructing Uddhava on how the living world manifests in many forms, setting the foundation for understanding how the modes of nature (guṇas) produce variety in bodies, tendencies, and experiences.
Seeing diverse natures and capacities as outcomes of material conditioning helps reduce envy and pride, and encourages humility and devotion—focusing on bhakti rather than external designation.