Hierarchy of Beings
Question: In Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (5.5.21-22), the following hierarchy of jīvas is given: bhūteṣu vīrudbhya uduttamā ye sarīsṛpās teṣu sabodha-niṣṭhāḥ tato manuṣyāh pramathās tato ‘pi gandharva-siddhā vibudhānugā ye devāsurebhyo maghavat-pradhānā dakṣādayo brahma-sutās tu teṣām bhavaḥ paraḥ so ‘tha viriñca vīryah sa mat-paro ‘haṁ dvija-deva-devaḥ It says that superior to humans are the Gandharvas, and superior to