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 ||
Even among dull-witted creatures that have fallen into dejection and lost their inner composure, one still observes the instinct to sustain life when some task is undertaken for our sake. The mind points to a subtle ethical truth: living beings endure and act not merely for themselves, but are often drawn to preserve life and effort in response to duty, dependence, or the needs of others.
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.