Shloka 4
Bhūta-guṇa-saṃkhyāna
Enumeration of the Properties of the Elements and Cognitive Faculties
इन्द्रियाणां पृथग्भावाद् बुद्धिर्विक्रियते हृतः । शृण्वती भवति श्रोत्रं स्मृशती स्पर्श उच्यते,इन्द्रियाँ पृथक्-पृथक् हैं, इसलिये उनकी क्रियाएँ भी पृथक्-पृथक् हैं। अतः उन्हींके लिये बुद्धि नाना प्रकारके रूप धारण करती है। वही जब सुनती है तो श्रोत्र कहलाती है और स्पर्श करते समय स्पर्शेन्द्रिय (त्वचा) के नामसे पुकारी जाती है
indriyāṇāṃ pṛthagbhāvād buddhir vikriyate hṛtaḥ | śṛṇvatī bhavati śrotraṃ smṛśatī sparśa ucyate ||
毗耶娑说：诸根各自分立，其作用亦各不相同。因此，理智被它们牵引向外，便呈现多种不同的状态。当同一内在机能行于听闻时，称为耳；行于触知时，称为触觉之根（皮肤）。
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse explains that the many sense-functions are distinct because the senses are distinct, and that the intellect (buddhi) appears to take on different forms depending on which sensory operation it is engaged in—hearing as ‘ear’ and touching as ‘touch.’ This supports the ethical-spiritual aim of mastering the senses by recognizing their operations as modes rather than the true Self.
In the Śānti Parva’s instructional discourse, Vyāsa is describing an analysis of inner faculties—how cognition seems to diversify through the senses—guiding the listener toward discernment and restraint as part of the path to peace and liberation.