Śrī Antarīkṣa said: O mighty-armed King, by activating the material elements, the primeval Soul of all creation has sent forth all living beings in higher and lower species so that these conditioned souls can cultivate either sense gratification or ultimate liberation, according to their desire.
Srimad Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम्
मूल श्लोकः
अन्तरिक्ष उवाच । एभिर्भूतानि भूतात्मा महाभूतैर्महाभुज । ससर्जोच्चावचान्याद्यः स्वमात्रात्मप्रसिद्धये
antarikṣa uvāca | ebhirbhūtāni bhūtātmā mahābhūtairmahābhuja | sasarjoccāvacānyādyaḥ svamātrātmaprasiddhaye
SB 11.3.3