Matsyapurana 154.149

154.149

kartrā praṇītā maryādā sthitā saṃsāriṇāmiyam
yo jāyate hi yadbījo janituḥ sa hyasārthakaḥ //

Hearing such words Himâchala became broken hearted and he lost all presence of mind His eyes were moist with tears. In that condition, Himâchala said to Nârada—This world is full of defects, its ways are mysterious. The flow of creation must go on, there is no doubt, a Superior Being who ordains the destinies of beings The effect comes from the cause but, thereby, the cause has no importance attached to it So it is clear that the father is nobody to the son The beings are born on account of their past karmas. Egg born ones become again egg born, they may also be born among men. Human beings may be born again as reptiles, and reptiles can become again men These superior births are according to their greater merits (in Dharma). It is owing to the difference of Dharma that differences of castes and Âśramas take place.—147 153