Shloka 17
Śuka’s Manifestation from the Araṇi (Āraṇeya-janma) — शुकजन्म (आरणेय-सम्भव)
न चेन्द्रियाणि पश्यन्ति मन एवानुपश्यति । चक्षु: पश्यति रूपाणि मनसा तु न चक्षुषा
na cendriyāṇi paśyanti mana evānupaśyati | cakṣuḥ paśyati rūpāṇi manasā tu na cakṣuṣā, rājendra |
न चेन्द्रियाणि पश्यन्ति मन एवानुपश्यति। चक्षुः पश्यति रूपाणि मनसा तु न चक्षुषा॥
याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Perception is fundamentally a function of the mind: the senses are instruments, but cognition, attention, and the experience of objects occur through the mind. Therefore ethical discipline and freedom from attachment depend primarily on governing the mind rather than merely restraining the organs.
In Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, the sage Yājñavalkya addresses a king (rājendra) and explains a philosophical point about how perception works—using the example of sight—to guide the listener toward inner discipline and self-knowledge.