Shloka 16
सप्तहोतृ-विधानम् एवं इन्द्रिय–मनःसंवादः
The Seven Hotṛs and the Debate of Senses and Mind
अगाराणीव शून्यानि शान्तार्चिष इवाग्नय: । इन्द्रियाणि न भासन्ते मया हीनानि नित्यश:,“मेरे बिना समस्त इन्द्रियाँ बुझी लपटोंवाली आग और सूने घरकी भाँति सदा श्रीहीन जान पड़ती हैं
agārāṇīva śūnyāni śāntārcīṣa ivāgnayaḥ | indriyāṇi na bhāsante mayā hīnāni nityaśaḥ ||
A Mente disse: “Sem mim, os sentidos nunca brilham de verdade. Privados da minha presença, parecem perpetuamente sem esplendor—como casas abandonadas, ou como fogos cujas chamas foram apagadas.”
मन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts the primacy of the mind in ethical and spiritual life: the senses gain clarity, purpose, and ‘radiance’ only when guided by mind. Without mental governance, sensory powers become ineffective and spiritually ‘impoverished,’ implying that self-mastery begins with disciplining the mind rather than merely suppressing the senses.
In a didactic passage, the speaker ‘Mind’ addresses the role of the senses, using vivid similes—empty houses and extinguished fires—to argue that the senses are dependent on the mind for meaningful function and direction.