Shloka 17
सप्तहोतृ-विधानम् एवं इन्द्रिय–मनःसंवादः
The Seven Hotṛs and the Debate of Senses and Mind
काष्ठानीवार्द्रशुष्काणि यतमानैरपीन्द्रियै: । गुणार्थान् नाधिगच्छन्ति मामृते सर्वजन्तव:
kāṣṭhānīva ārdraśuṣkāṇi yatamānair api indriyaiḥ | guṇārthān nādhigacchanti mām ṛte sarvajantavaḥ ||
心は言った。「濡れた木であれ乾いた木であれ、木片そのものは何ひとつ『経験』しない。これと同じく、あらゆる生きものも、感官がいかに努め励もうとも、我なくしては、感官の対象とその性質を真に把握できぬ。感覚の接触に意味を与えるのは心であり、心なきとき努力も器官もただ鈍く不活性である。」
मन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sense-organs alone do not produce experience; the mind is the indispensable mediator that apprehends sense-objects and their qualities. Without the mind’s participation, sensory effort is as inert as wet or dry wood.
The speaker ‘Mind’ is explaining its role within embodied life: even if the senses are active and striving, perception and enjoyment/knowledge of objects cannot occur without the mind, emphasizing inner causality over mere external faculties.