Bhagavad Gita 15.9
श्रोत्रं चक्षुः स्पर्शनं च रसनं घ्राणमेव च । अधिष्ठाय मनश्चायं विषयानुपसेवते ॥
śrotraṁ cakṣuḥ sparśanaṁ ca rasanaṁ ghrāṇam eva ca | adhiṣṭhāya manaś cāyaṁ viṣayān upasevate ||
Translation
Presiding over ear, eye, touch, taste, smell, and the mind, this one enjoys the objects.
Reflection
Which sense is working hardest now, and who is seated above it?
Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Fifteen
Granular map of the previous image. Ear listens but is presided over. Eye sees but is presided over. Same for touch, taste, smell, and the mind that synthesises them. Verb adhishthaya does not mean controlling like a puppeteer. It means seated on top, like a king seated over ministers. Ministers handle the work; sovereignty stays separate. Whole circus of vishaya-enjoyment runs because a presiding presence is renting out attention to each sense in turn. Practice handle: ask which sense is doing the most work in the next twenty seconds. Then ask who is sitting above it. Answer is meant to be felt.