Shloka 21
Brāhmaṇa-māhātmya: Tārkṣya’s instruction on tapas, satya, and svadharma
Chapter 182
तत्र चापि नरव्यात्र मनो जन्तोर्विधीयते । तस्माद् युगपदत्रास्य ग्रहणं नोपपद्यते,नरश्रेष्ठ! विषयोंके उपभोगके समय (बुद्धिके द्वारा) इस जीवात्माका मन किसी एक ही विषयमें नियन्त्रित कर दिया जाता है। इसीलिये उसके द्वारा एक ही साथ अनेक विषयोंका ग्रहण सम्भव नहीं हो पाता है
tatra cāpi naravyāghra mano jantor vidhīyate | tasmād yugapad atrāsya grahaṇaṁ nopapadyate, naraśreṣṭha |
Even there, O tiger among men, the mind of a living being is directed and confined to a single object. Therefore, O best of men, it is not possible for him to grasp many objects all at once. During enjoyment the mind, guided by the intellect, fastens upon one sense-object at a time; hence simultaneous apprehension of multiple objects does not occur.
सर्प उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the mind functions by attending to one object at a time; because it is regulated and directed, simultaneous grasping of many sense-objects is not feasible. Ethically, it supports the idea that discipline of attention is central to self-control.
A serpent is instructing a human interlocutor (addressed as ‘naravyāghra’ and ‘naraśreṣṭha’) in a reflective, philosophical manner, explaining how the mind’s operation limits perception and enjoyment to a single object at a time.