घ्राणं चक्षुस्तथा श्रोत्रं वाड्मनो बुद्धिरेव च । न रसानधिगच्छन्ति जिह्नला तानधिगच्छति,नासिका, कान, नेत्र, त्वचा, मन और बुद्धि--ये रसोंका आस्वादन नहीं कर सकते। केवल जिह्नला उसका स्वाद ले सकती है
ghrāṇaṃ cakṣus tathā śrotraṃ vāṅ-mano buddhir eva ca | na rasān adhigacchanti jihvā tān adhigacchati ||
Disse o brāhmaṇa: “O nariz, os olhos, os ouvidos, a fala, a mente e até o intelecto não apreendem os sabores por si mesmos. O sabor é captado somente pela língua.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Each faculty has its proper object and limit: taste belongs to the tongue alone. Ethically, this supports self-discipline and clear discernment—do not let mind, speech, or intellect falsely claim mastery over what they do not directly know, and do not confuse sensory craving with true understanding.
A brāhmaṇa speaker is explaining how perception works by distinguishing the roles of the senses and inner faculties. The line functions as an illustrative example within a broader instruction, using the specific case of taste to clarify the boundaries of cognition.