Shloka 21

Śukasya Janma-yoga-phalaṁ — Vyāsasya Tapasā Putrārthaḥ (Śānti-parva 310)

Devanagari script

श्रोत्र, त्वचा, नेत्र, जिह्ला और पाँचवीं नासिका--इसे छठा सर्ग बताया गया है। यह बहुचिन्तात्मक सर्ग माना गया है

Transliteration

śrotraṃ, tvacā, netre, jihvā ca pañcamī nāsikā—eṣa ṣaṣṭhaḥ sargaḥ kathitaḥ. eṣa bahu-cintātmakaḥ sargaḥ mataḥ.

Translation

ಯಾಜ್ಞವಲ್ಕ್ಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಕಿವಿ, ಚರ್ಮ, ಕಣ್ಣುಗಳು, ನಾಲಿಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ಐದನೆಯದು ಮೂಗು—ಇದನ್ನೇ ಆರನೆಯ ಸರ್ಗವೆಂದು ವರ್ಣಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಈ ಸರ್ಗವು ಅನೇಕ ವಿಧದ ಚಿಂತನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸುವುದಾಗಿ ಪರಿಗಣಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ.

Word by Word

श्रोत्रम्ear (organ of hearing)

त्वक्skin

नेत्रम्eye

जिह्वाtongue

चand

पञ्चमीfifth

नासिकाnose (nostril)

इदम्this

षष्ठम्sixth

सर्गम्group/section (sarga)

आहुःthey say/call

एषःthis (he/this one)

बहुचिन्तात्मकःof many thoughts; much-contemplative

सर्गःgroup/section (sarga)

मतःconsidered/thought

Speaker

याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yājñavalkya

ear (śrotra)

skin (tvac)

eyes (netra)

tongue (jihvā)

nose (nāsikā)

Ṣ

ṣaṣṭha sarga (the sixth aggregate/creation)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse classifies the sense-faculties (hearing, touch, sight, taste, smell) as a distinct aggregate (‘sixth sarga’) and notes that this sensory complex is a source of manifold mental activity. Ethically, it points toward vigilance and restraint: unchecked sensory engagement multiplies thoughts and distractions, while disciplined senses support clarity and dharmic conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s philosophical instruction, the sage Yājñavalkya is explaining a doctrinal enumeration of constituents of experience. He identifies the five senses and labels them collectively as a particular ‘sarga,’ emphasizing their role in generating diverse thoughts within the mind.