Shloka 4

इन्द्रियाणां पृथग्भावाद्‌ बुद्धिर्विक्रियते हृतः । शृण्वती भवति श्रोत्रं स्मृशती स्पर्श उच्यते,इन्द्रियाँ पृथक्‌-पृथक्‌ हैं, इसलिये उनकी क्रियाएँ भी पृथक्‌-पृथक्‌ हैं। अतः उन्हींके लिये बुद्धि नाना प्रकारके रूप धारण करती है। वही जब सुनती है तो श्रोत्र कहलाती है और स्पर्श करते समय स्पर्शेन्द्रिय (त्वचा) के नामसे पुकारी जाती है

indriyāṇāṃ pṛthagbhāvād buddhir vikriyate hṛtaḥ | śṛṇvatī bhavati śrotraṃ smṛśatī sparśa ucyate ||

ヴィヤーサは言った。「諸感官はそれぞれ別個の働きとして存するゆえ、その作用もまた別々である。ゆえに知性は—それらに引かれて外へ向かい—多様な様態を取る。同じ内なる機能が聴く働きをなすとき『耳』と呼ばれ、触れる働きをなすとき『触覚(皮膚)』と称される。」

इन्द्रियाणाम्of the senses
इन्द्रियाणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootइन्द्रिय
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
पृथक्separately
पृथक्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपृथक्
भावात्from (their) state/condition
भावात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootभाव
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
बुद्धिःintellect
बुद्धिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootबुद्धि
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
विक्रियतेis modified/changes
विक्रियते:
TypeVerb
Rootवि+कृ
FormPresent, Atmanepada, Third, Singular
हृतःtaken away/withdrawn
हृतः:
TypeAdjective
Rootहृत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शृण्वतीhearing (when it hears)
शृण्वती:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रु
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
भवतिbecomes
भवति:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormPresent, Parasmaipada, Third, Singular
श्रोत्रम्the ear (organ of hearing)
श्रोत्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootश्रोत्र
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
स्मृशतीtouching (when it touches)
स्मृशती:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootस्पृश्
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
स्पर्शःtouch (organ/sense of touch)
स्पर्शः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootस्पर्श
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उच्यतेis called
उच्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPresent, Passive, Third, Singular

व्यास उवाच

V
Vyāsa
I
indriya (senses)
B
buddhi (intellect)
Ś
śrotra (ear/hearing faculty)
S
sparśa (touch/tactile faculty)

Educational Q&A

The verse explains that the many sense-functions are distinct because the senses are distinct, and that the intellect (buddhi) appears to take on different forms depending on which sensory operation it is engaged in—hearing as ‘ear’ and touching as ‘touch.’ This supports the ethical-spiritual aim of mastering the senses by recognizing their operations as modes rather than the true Self.

In the Śānti Parva’s instructional discourse, Vyāsa is describing an analysis of inner faculties—how cognition seems to diversify through the senses—guiding the listener toward discernment and restraint as part of the path to peace and liberation.