Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 6
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
从以婆利古牟尼为首的诸祖先以及梵天的其他诸子之中，出现了无数子孙后裔，分别呈现为天神、阿修罗、人类、古希亚迦、悉达、乾闼婆、持明、查罗那、金提婆、紧那罗、那伽、罗刹、金普鲁沙等种种形类。由于由三种物质性德性——罗阇、萨埵、怛摩——所生的不同性情与欲望，诸类众生及其主宰各各差别；因此随众生差异，吠陀的祭仪、真言与果报也呈多样。
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
This passage explains that many classes of beings (Devas, humans, Nāgas, Rākṣasas, etc.) manifest with diverse constitutions due to the three guṇas—sattva, rajas, and tamas—which differentiate living beings and even their presiding rulers.
In the Uddhava Gītā context, Kṛṣṇa is teaching how prakṛti works through the guṇas, producing variegated dispositions and experiences; listing beings illustrates the broad scope of guṇa-based diversity in the cosmos.
By observing whether your thoughts, habits, and speech express sattva (clarity), rajas (restlessness), or tamas (inertia), you can consciously cultivate sattva and transcend the modes through devotion and God-centered living.