Shloka 21
सप्तहोतृ-विधानम् एवं इन्द्रिय–मनःसंवादः
The Seven Hotṛs and the Debate of Senses and Mind
अथ चेन्मन्यसे सिद्धिमस्मदर्थेषु नित्यदा । प्राणेन रूपमादत्स्व रसमादत्स्व चक्षुषा,अथवा हम सब इन्द्रियाँ लीन हो जायँ या विषयोंमें स्थित रहें, यदि आप अपने संकल्पमात्रसे विषयोंका यथार्थ अनुभव करनेकी शक्ति रखते हैं और आपको ऐसा करनेमें सदा ही सफलता प्राप्त होती है तो जरा नाकके द्वारा रूपका तो अनुभव कीजिये, आँखसे रसका तो स्वाद लीजिये और कानके द्वारा गन्धोंको तो ग्रहण कीजिये। इसी प्रकार अपनी शक्तिसे जिह्लाके द्वारा स्पर्शका, त्वचाके द्वारा शब्दका और बुद्धिके द्वारा स्पर्शका तो अनुभव कीजिये
atha cen manyase siddhim asmad-artheṣu nityadā | prāṇena rūpam ādatsva rasam ādatsva cakṣuṣā ||
Mind said: “If you believe you always succeed in accomplishing our purposes, then reverse the very order of the senses: take in form through the breath, and taste flavor through the eyes.” The statement is a pointed challenge meant to expose the fixed limits of the sense-organs and to show that mere intention cannot override the natural boundaries of perception; true knowledge requires disciplined discernment rather than arrogant claims of mastery.
मन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that perception is constrained by the inherent capacities of each sense-organ; claims of effortless mastery are tested by asking for impossible cross-sensory perception. Ethically, it cautions against pride and urges disciplined understanding of how mind and senses actually function.
The speaker, Mind (manas), challenges an interlocutor who claims constant success in fulfilling aims. Mind proposes an absurd reversal—seeing through breath and tasting through eyes—to demonstrate that intention alone cannot make the senses perform each other’s functions.