Shloka 4
सप्तहोतृ-विधानम् एवं इन्द्रिय–मनःसंवादः
The Seven Hotṛs and the Debate of Senses and Mind
ब्राह्मण्युवाच सूक्ष्मेअवकाशे सन्तस्ते कं नान्योन्यदर्शिन: । कथंस्वभावा भगवन्नेतदाचक्ष्व मे प्रभो,ब्राह्मणीने पूछा--भगवन्! जब सभी सूक्ष्म शरीरमें ही रहते हैं, तब एक-दूसरेको देख क्यों नहीं पाते? प्रभो! उनके स्वभाव कैसे हैं? यह बतानेकी कृपा करें
brāhmaṇy uvāca sūkṣme 'vakāśe santaḥ te kaṁ na anyonya-darśinaḥ | kathaṁ-svabhāvā bhagavan etad ācakṣva me prabho ||
The Brahmin woman said: “Though all these beings abide within the same subtle sphere, why do they not perceive one another? O Blessed Lord, please explain to me, O Master, what their inherent dispositions are.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a philosophical problem: beings may coexist in a subtle realm yet fail to perceive one another due to differences in inherent disposition (svabhāva) and the conditions governing perception. It invites an explanation of how nature and perception-limitations shape experience.
In a teacher–questioner dialogue, the Brahmin woman respectfully questions the Lord-like interlocutor: if all reside in the same subtle space, why is there no mutual visibility, and what are the characteristic natures of those beings.