SB 11.7.22 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

एकद्वित्रिचतुष्पादो बहुपादस्तथापद: । बह्‍व्‍य: सन्ति पुर: सृष्टास्तासां मे पौरुषी प्रिया ॥ २२ ॥

Verse text

eka-dvi-tri-catuṣ-pādo bahu-pādas tathāpadaḥ bahvyaḥ santi puraḥ sṛṣṭās tāsāṁ me pauruṣī priyā

Synonyms

eka — one ; dvi — two ; tri — three ; catuḥ — four ; pādaḥ — having legs ; bahu — pādaḥ — having many legs ; tathā — also ; apadaḥ — having no legs ; bahvyaḥ — many ; santi — there are ; puraḥ — different kinds of bodies ; sṛṣṭāḥ — created ; tāsām — of them ; me — to Me ; pauruṣī — the human form ; priyā — is most dear .

Translation

In this world there are many kinds of created bodies — some with one leg, others with two, three, four or more legs, and still others with no legs — but of all these, the human form is actually dear to Me.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

In this world there are many kinds of created bodies—some with one leg, others with two, three, four or more legs, and still others with no legs—but of all these, the human form is actually dear to me. He praises the human form.

Purport

The ultimate purpose of material creation is to facilitate the return of the conditioned souls back home, back to Godhead. Since this redemption of the conditioned souls is especially possible in the human form of life, naturally this form is particularly dear to the compassionate Personality of Godhead.