jalaja nava laksani
sthavara laksha-vimsati
krimayo rudra sankhyakat
prkshinam dasa-laksanam
trimsal-laksani paravah
catur laksani manusah
sthavara laksha-vimsati
krimayo rudra sankhyakat
prkshinam dasa-laksanam
trimsal-laksani paravah
catur laksani manusah
"There are 900,000 species living in the water. There are also 2,000,000 nonmoving entities such as trees and plants. There are 1.100,000 species of insects and reptiles and there are 1,000,000 species of birds. As far as animals are concerned there are 3,000,000 varieties and there are 400,000 human species." (Padma Purana)
SB 2.10.37-40: Brahma and his sons like Daksa, the periodical heads like Vaivasvata Manu, the demigods like Indra, Candra and Varuna, the great sages like Bhrgu, Vyasa and Vasistha, the Gandharvas, Vidyadharas, Asuras, Yaksas, Kinnaras and apsaras, the serpents, the monkey-shaped Kimpurusas, the human beings, the inhabitants of Matrloka, the demons, Pisacas, ghosts, spirits, lunatics and evil spirits, the good and evil stars, goblins, the animals in the forest, the birds, the household animals, the reptiles, the mountains, the entities born from the embryo, from eggs, from perspiration, from seeds and all others, whether they be in water, land or air, in happiness or distress. All of them, according to their past deeds are created by the Supreme Lord.
SB 5.5.21-22: Beings who have a living force (vegetables, trees and plants), are superior to earth, stone or dull matter, etc. Superior to non-moving beings are snakes and worms, etc., or beings that move. Superior to snakes and worms are animals with developed intelligence. Superior to animals are human beings. Superior to human beings are ghosts because they have no material (gross) bodies. Superior to ghosts are Gandharvas. Superior to Gandharvas are the Siddhas. Superior to the Siddhas are the Kinnaras. Superior to the Kinnaras are the demons. Superior to the demons are the demigods. Of the demigods Indra is the topmost. Brahma's direct sons like Daksa, etc., are superior to Indra. Among Brahma's sons Siva is the most elevated.
SB 6.6.*: Prajapati Daksa begot sixty daughters in the womb of his wife Asikni. These daughters were given in charity to different people to increase the population. Ten daughters were given to Dharmaraja, thirteen to Kasyapa, and twenty-seven to the moon god. In this way fifty daughters were distributed. Of the other ten, two were given to Bhuta, Angira and Krsasva and the remaining four were given to Kasyapa. Thus Kasyapa got seventeen of Daksa's daughters. It was because of the union of these daughters with various exalted personalities, that the entire universe was filled with various kinds of living entities in various bodies like humans, demigods, birds, etc.
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