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Shloka 16

Śuka’s Manifestation from the Araṇi (Āraṇeya-janma) — शुकजन्म (आरणेय-सम्भव)

मनश्ष्रति राजेन्द्र चारितं सर्वमिन्द्रिये:

manas śrati rājendra cāritaṁ sarvam indriyaiḥ | rājendra! mana indriyair dvārā sañcālitaḥ sarva-viṣayān prati gacchati | indriyāṇi tān viṣayān na paśyanti; mana eva tān nirantaraṁ paśyati | cakṣuḥ manasaḥ sahāyenaiva rūpa-darśanaṁ karoti, na sva-śaktyā ||

ヤージュニャヴァルキヤは言った。「王よ。感官に関わる一切の経験の歩みは、心によって統べられている。心は感官を通して働き、あらゆる対象へと向かう。感官そのものが真に対象を『見る』のではない。絶えずそれを捉えるのは、ただ心のみである。眼でさえ、心の助けがあってはじめて色(形)を観ずるのであって、眼の独立した力によるのではない。」

मनःmind
मनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमनस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
स्रतिmoves/flows/goes
स्रति:
TypeVerb
Rootसृ
FormPresent, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
राजेन्द्रO king of kings
राजेन्द्र:
TypeNoun
Rootराजेन्द्र
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
चारितम्conduct/behavior
चारितम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootचारित
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
सर्वम्all/entire
सर्वम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
इन्द्रियैःby/through the senses
इन्द्रियैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootइन्द्रिय
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural

याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच

Y
Yājñavalkya
R
Rājendra (the king addressed)
M
mind (manas)
S
sense faculties (indriyas)
E
eye (cakṣuḥ)
O
objects of sense (viṣayas)
F
form (rūpa)

Educational Q&A

Perception is fundamentally a function of the mind: the senses are merely channels, while the mind is the true apprehender. Ethical self-mastery therefore requires disciplining the mind, not merely restraining the external organs.

In a didactic exchange in Śānti Parva, Yājñavalkya instructs the king on the psychology of cognition—explaining how the mind, operating through the senses, engages objects, and how even sight depends on mental attention.