As a tortoise stretches forth its legs and withdraws them again into itself, so the numberless creatures originate from (and enter) these five great essences.
प्रसारयित्वेहाङ्गानि कूर्मः संहरते यथा। तद्वद् भूतानि भूतानामल्पीयांसि स्थवीयसाम्॥