Shloka 19
जनक–पराशर संवादः — वर्ण-गोत्र-धर्मविचारः
Janaka–Parāśara: Varṇa, Gotra, and Dharma Inquiry
नेत्र आदि इन्द्रियाँ दर्शन आदि कार्योंके लिये हैं। मन संशय करता है और बुद्धि उस विषयका ठीक-ठीक निश्चय करनेके लिये है। क्षेत्रज्ञ (आत्मा)-को साक्षी बताया जाता है। भरतनन्दन! सत्त्व
yena paśyati tac cakṣuḥ śṛṇvatī śrotram ucyate | jighratī bhavati ghrāṇaṃ rasatī rasanā rasān ||
毗湿摩说道：“凭其而见者名为眼；凭其而闻者名为耳。行嗅者成鼻；尝诸味者名为舌。是故诸根以其功用而立名；然其活动背后，有意（manas）与辨识之智（buddhi）的内在统御，而真我（Ātman）为证知者。此教旨在于道德的自制：当 buddhi 安定，诸根便服务于正知，而不再牵引人奔逐躁动之境。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The senses are identified by their respective functions (seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting), implying that sensory activity is instrumental and dependent; therefore one should cultivate inner governance—especially steady intellect—so that sense-activity supports discernment and dharma rather than impulsive attachment.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on inner constitution and self-control. Here he defines the sense-organs by their operations, as part of a broader explanation of how mind and intellect regulate the senses, with the Self as witness.