श्रोत्रं चक्षु: स्पर्शनं च रसनं घ्राणमेव च |
अधिष्ठाय मनश्चायं विषयानुपसेवते || 9||
śhrotraṁ chakṣhuḥ sparśhanaṁ cha rasanaṁ ghrāṇam eva cha
adhiṣhṭhāya manaśh chāyaṁ viṣhayān upasevate
śhrotram—ears; chakṣhuḥ—eyes; sparśhanam—the sense of touch; cha—and; rasanam—tongue; ghrāṇam—nose; eva—also; cha—and; adhiṣhṭhāya—grouped around; manaḥ—mind; cha—also; ayam—they; viṣhayān—sense objects; upasevate—savors
Translation:
Presiding over the ear and the eye, the organs of touch, taste, and smell, and also over the mind, he experiences sense-objects.
Commentary:
As it is said here that the jiva takes refuge in the mind and the senses for the enjoyment of the senses-objects, it is clear that the jiva is distinct from the senses and the mind. They are the vehicles of the jiva. By his ignorance, he takes refuge in them, and experiences the pleasures and pains of material existence. Therefore, the experience of the mind and the senses, do not really pertain to the jivatma. He wears these vehicles for the purpose of enjoying the objects of the sense-world. He functions through them, and thus identifies himself with their changes and modifications. In truth, Atma is independent of the mind, body and the senses.
Question: What are the instruments with which the jiva enjoys the objective world?
Answer: With the organs of (1) ear, (2) eye, (3) touch, (4) taste, (5) smell and the mind, the sixth organ taking refuge in them, the jiva sense world.