Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 23
Brahmā’s Secondary Creation, Kāla (Eternal Time), and the Taxonomy of Species
खरोऽश्वोऽश्वतरो गौर: शरभश्चमरी तथा । एते चैकशफा: क्षत्त: शृणु पञ्चनखान् पशून् ॥ २३ ॥
kharo ’śvo ’śvataro gauraḥ śarabhaś camarī tathā ete caika-śaphāḥ kṣattaḥ śṛṇu pañca-nakhān paśūn
கழுதை, குதிரை, கழுதைக்குதிரை, கௌர, சரப, சாமரி—இவை அனைத்தும் ஒற்றைக் குளம்புடையவை, ஓ க்ஷத்தா! இனி பஞ்சநக (ஐந்து நகம்) விலங்குகளை என்னிடமிருந்து கேள்।
FAQs
In Canto 3, Chapter 10, this verse lists examples of ekaśapha—ass, horse, mule, gaura, śarabha, and camara—describing them as a category within the Lord’s ordered creation.
Vidura is hearing about the divisions of creation; Śukadeva continues the systematic description of living species, moving from one classification (single-hoofed) to the next (five-nailed animals).
It cultivates humility and God-consciousness by seeing nature as structured and purposeful, encouraging respect for all life as parts of the Supreme Lord’s creation.