Shloka 26
सप्तहोतृ-विधानम् एवं इन्द्रिय–मनःसंवादः
The Seven Hotṛs and the Debate of Senses and Mind
वैमनस्यं गतानां च जन्तूनामल्पचेतसाम् | अस्मदर्थ कृते कार्य दृश्यते प्राणधारणम्,जो मनरहित हुए मन्दबुद्धि प्राणी हैं, उनमें भी हमारे लिये ही कार्य किये जानेपर प्राण- धारण देखा जाता है
vaimanasyaṃ gatānāṃ ca jantūnām alpacetasām | asmadarthaṃ kṛte kārye dṛśyate prāṇadhāraṇam ||
Même parmi les êtres à l’esprit obtus, tombés dans l’abattement et privés de leur maîtrise intérieure, on observe encore l’instinct de soutenir la vie lorsqu’une tâche est entreprise pour nous. L’esprit révèle une vérité morale subtile : les vivants endurent et agissent non pour eux seuls, mais sont souvent portés à préserver la vie et l’effort par devoir, par dépendance, ou en réponse aux besoins d’autrui.
मन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that the impulse to preserve life and continue effort persists even in beings who are mentally weakened or despondent, especially when responsibility or a task is connected to the needs of others—suggesting an ethical dimension of endurance rooted in duty and relational obligation.
The speaker identified as 'Mind' (मन) reflects on observable behavior in living beings: despite low understanding and inner discouragement, they still keep themselves alive and carry on when a work is to be done for 'our' sake—using this as an illustrative point in a broader moral-philosophical discourse.