एषां वै भूतानां पृथिवी रसः पृथिव्या आपोऽपामोषधय ओषधीनां पुष्पाणि पुष्पाणां फलानि फलानां पुरुषः पुरुषस्य रेतः ॥ १ ॥
In plain words
Trace anything alive back far enough and this is the chain you find: earth is the essence of every being, water is the essence of earth, the plant is the essence of water, the flower is the essence of the plant, the fruit is the essence of the flower, the human being is the essence of the fruit, and semen is the essence of the human being.
Close to the Sanskrit
Of these beings, earth is the essence; of earth, water; of water, plants; of plants, flowers; of flowers, fruits; of fruits, man; of man, semen.