Bhagavatapurana 3.5.36

3.5.36

bhūtānāṃ nabha-ādīnāṃ yad yad bhavyāvarāvaram /
teṣāṃ parānusaṃsargād yathā saṅkhyaṃ guṇān viduḥ //

36. O worthy Vidura, of the Bhutas commencing with Akasa, the wise know (say) that according as each is later in evolution its qualities are in due order *as many as are the earlier links connected with each Bhuta*.