Shloka 12
Jvarotpatti — The Origin and Distribution of Jvara
Fever
चक्षुषी नासिकाकर्णो त्वक् जिद्वेति च पठचमी । इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थानां ज्ञानानि कवयो विदु:
cakṣuṣī nāsikākarṇau tvak jihveti ca pañcamī | indriyāṇīndriyārthānāṃ jñānāni kavayo viduḥ ||
ଅସିତ କହିଲେ—ବିଦ୍ୱାନମାନେ କହନ୍ତି ଯେ ଦୁଇ ଚକ୍ଷୁ, ନାସିକା, ଦୁଇ କର୍ଣ୍ଣ, ତ୍ୱକ୍ ଏବଂ ପଞ୍ଚମ ଜିହ୍ୱା—ଏହି ପାଞ୍ଚ ଜ୍ଞାନେନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟ ନିଜ-ନିଜ ବିଷୟକୁ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରାଏ। ତେଣୁ ଜ୍ଞାନୀମାନେ ବୁଝନ୍ତି ଯେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟ-ଜ୍ଞାନ ହେଉଛି ଜଗତ୍-ଜ୍ଞାନର ଦ୍ୱାର; ଏହାକୁ ଠିକ୍ଭାବେ ବୁଝି ସଂଯମ କରିବା ଉଚିତ।
असित उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse identifies the five organs of knowledge (eyes, nose, ears, skin, tongue) as the instruments by which sense-objects are apprehended, implying that ethical life requires understanding and regulating sense-perception rather than being driven by it.
In Asita’s discourse in the Śānti Parva, he is explaining a classificatory teaching about the human faculties—specifically how knowledge of the external world arises through the senses—within a broader instruction on right understanding and self-mastery.