Shloka 23
सप्तहोतृ-विधानम् एवं इन्द्रिय–मनःसंवादः
The Seven Hotṛs and the Debate of Senses and Mind
बलवन्तो हानियमा नियमा दुर्बलीयसाम् । भोगानपूर्वानादत्स्व नोच्छिष्टं भोक्तुमहति
balavanto hāniyamā niyamā durbalīyasām | bhogān apūrvān ādatsva no cchiṣṭaṃ bhoktum arhati ||
Le Mental dit : «Les forts ne sont pas faits pour être enchaînés par des règles contraignantes ; ces entraves sont pour les faibles. Goûte des plaisirs sans précédent, par des voies nouvelles. Il ne te sied pas de vivre des restes d’autrui.»
मन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents the mind’s seductive argument that power excuses one from moral restraints and that one should pursue novel pleasures; ethically, it exemplifies a common inner rationalization that dharma and self-discipline are unnecessary for the ‘strong,’ a view the broader tradition typically critiques.
In a dialogue framed as an inner debate, the speaker ‘Mind’ urges the listener to abandon niyamas (restraints) and seek fresh enjoyments, claiming it is unworthy to accept what is ‘left over’—a push toward indulgence and self-assertion.