Shloka 13
कपिल–स्यूमरश्मि संवादः
Kapila and Syūmaraśmi on Renunciation, Householder Support, and Epistemic Authority
यथान्धबधिरोन्मत्ता उच्छवासपरमा: सदा । देवैरपिहितद्वारा: सोपमा पश्यतो मम
yathāndhabadhironmattā ucchvāsaparamāḥ sadā | devair apihitadvārāḥ sopamā paśyato mama ||
Tulādhāra berkata: “Seperti orang buta, pekak, dan gila—yang pintu-pintu persepsi (mata, telinga, dan seumpamanya) telah ditutup oleh para dewa—mereka sentiasa hanya meneruskan perbuatan bernafas; demikian juga keadaanku, walaupun aku seorang yang melihat. Ertinya, ketika melihat aku tidak ‘melihat’, ketika mendengar aku tidak ‘mendengar’, dan aku tidak membiarkan minda berlari kepada objek-objek indera; aku kekal sebagai saksi, mengekalkan hanya gerak asas tarikan dan hembusan nafas.”
तुलाधार उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches inner detachment and mastery over the senses: the wise person remains a mere witness (sākṣin), not appropriating sensory experience as ‘I see/I hear,’ and not letting the mind chase objects—living with minimal, necessary activity, symbolized by simple breathing.
Tulādhāra describes his own spiritual state to his interlocutor: although he appears to function normally, he claims to be like one whose sense-gates are closed—engaging the world without inner grasping, maintaining equanimity and non-involvement while continuing basic life-functions.