Shloka 13
कपिल–स्यूमरश्मि संवादः
Kapila and Syūmaraśmi on Renunciation, Householder Support, and Epistemic Authority
यथान्धबधिरोन्मत्ता उच्छवासपरमा: सदा । देवैरपिहितद्वारा: सोपमा पश्यतो मम
yathāndhabadhironmattā ucchvāsaparamāḥ sadā | devair apihitadvārāḥ sopamā paśyato mama ||
जैसे अन्धे, बहरे और उन्मत्त मनुष्य—जिनके नेत्र, कर्ण आदि द्वार देवताओं ने मानो बन्द कर दिए हों—सदा केवल श्वास-प्रश्वास करते रहते हैं, वैसे ही मेरी भी दशा है, यद्यपि मैं द्रष्टा हूँ। अर्थात् देखता हुआ भी नहीं देखता, सुनता हुआ भी नहीं सुनता; मन को विषयों की ओर नहीं जाने देता; साक्षीभाव से रहकर केवल श्वास-प्रश्वास की क्रिया निभाता हूँ।
तुलाधार उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches inner detachment and mastery over the senses: the wise person remains a mere witness (sākṣin), not appropriating sensory experience as ‘I see/I hear,’ and not letting the mind chase objects—living with minimal, necessary activity, symbolized by simple breathing.
Tulādhāra describes his own spiritual state to his interlocutor: although he appears to function normally, he claims to be like one whose sense-gates are closed—engaging the world without inner grasping, maintaining equanimity and non-involvement while continuing basic life-functions.