Shloka 11
सप्तहोतृ-विधानम् एवं इन्द्रिय–मनःसंवादः
The Seven Hotṛs and the Debate of Senses and Mind
घ्राणं जिह्ना च चक्षुश्न त्वक् श्रोत्रं बुद्धिरेव च । संशयं नाधिगच्छन्ति मनस्तमधिगच्छति,नासिका, जीभ, आँख, त्वचा, कान और बुद्धि--ये संशय (संकल्प-विकल्प) नहीं कर सकते। यह काम मनका है
ghrāṇaṁ jihvā ca cakṣuṣī tvak śrotraṁ buddhir eva ca | saṁśayaṁ nādhigacchanti manas tam adhigacchati ||
Sang brāhmaṇa berkata: “Hidung, lidah, mata, kulit, telinga, bahkan akal budi (buddhi) sendiri tidaklah melahirkan keraguan atau kebimbangan. Yang mencapai—dan menimbulkan—kegoyahan itu ialah minda (manas). Maka keteguhan moral dan daya pertimbangan yang benar bergantung pada penaklukan minda, bukan pada menyalahkan pancaindera.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Doubt and indecision are not produced by the external sense-faculties or even by raw intellect alone; they arise in the mind, which coordinates perceptions and entertains alternatives. Ethical clarity therefore requires disciplining the mind—so that perception and intellect can function without wavering.
A brāhmaṇa speaker is explaining an inner, psychological basis for moral confusion: the senses merely report their objects, and the intellect can discern, but the mind is where vacillation (saṅkalpa–vikalpa) occurs. The statement supports a broader instruction on self-governance and right conduct.