Shloka 14
सप्तहोतृ-विधानम् एवं इन्द्रिय–मनःसंवादः
The Seven Hotṛs and the Debate of Senses and Mind
मन उवाच नाप्राति मामृते प्राणं रसं जिदह्दा न वेत्ति च । रूप॑ चक्षुर्न गृह्नाति त्वक् स्पर्श नावबुध्यते,एक बार मनने इन्द्रियोंसे कहा--मेरी सहायताके बिना नासिका सूँघ नहीं सकती, जीभ रसका स्वाद नहीं ले सकती, आँख रूप नहीं देख सकती, त्वचा स्पर्शका अनुभव नहीं कर सकती और कानोंको शब्द नहीं सुनायी दे सकता। इसलिये मैं सब भूतोंमें श्रेष्ठ और सनातन हूँ
mana uvāca nāprāpti mām ṛte prāṇaṃ rasaṃ jihvā na vetti ca | rūpaṃ cakṣur na gṛhṇāti tvak sparśaṃ nāvabudhyate ||
मन उवाच— मया विना न घ्राणं प्राणरसं प्राप्नोति; जिह्वा न रसं वेत्ति । रूपं चक्षुर्न गृह्णाति; त्वक् स्पर्शं नावबुध्यते ॥ एवं मयि अधिष्ठितानि सर्वाणि कर्मेन्द्रियाणि ज्ञानेन्द्रियाणि च ।
मन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The senses do not function meaningfully on their own; the mind integrates and directs them. Therefore, ethical discipline begins with governing the mind, since uncontrolled mind leads to scattered perception and action.
In a didactic exchange, the Mind addresses the faculties (and their functions), declaring that without its coordinating power the organs cannot apprehend their respective objects—taste, form, and touch—thereby establishing its superiority as the internal ruler of sensory experience.