Samkhya Karika 28

शब्दादिषु पञ्चानामालोचनमात्रमिष्यते वृत्तिः ।
वचनादानविहरणोत्सर्गानन्दाश्च पञ्चानाम् ॥ २८ ॥

śābdādiṣu pañcānāmālocanamātramiṣyate vṛttiḥ ।
vacanādānaviharaṇotsargānandāśca pañcānām ॥ 28 ॥

Śābdādiṣu=in respect of sound etc.; pañcānām=of the five sense organs; ālocana=observation; mātram=only; iṣyate=is considered; vṛttiḥ=function; vacana=speech; ādāna=grasping; viharaṇa=locomotion; utsarga=excretion; ānandāḥ=sexual enjoyment; ca=and; pañcānām=of the five

The function of the five organs of cognition in respect of sound etc. is observation only. The functions of the five organs of action are speech, grasping, locomotion, excretion and sexual enjoyment.

This karika lists the ten indriyas (sense organs) – five organs of perception and five organs of action. In fact, the karika lists individually the functions of the five organs of action only. For the organs of perception, it just says “sound etc.” assuming that the reader is familiar with the function of the five organs of perception – smell, taste, sight, touch and hearing.

The word “ālocanamātra” (observation only) has been interpreted differently by different authors. Gaudapada says that it refers to the very specific function done by each of the five sense organs. For example, eyes can only see, ears can only hear etc. Mishra, on the other hand, interprets it to mean that the function of the sense organs is observation only, not ascertainment. For example, the eye can only bring an image of the object it perceives. It is the function of the mind to determine what that object is. I am strongly inclined to go with the interpretation provided by Mishra since it is well understood that the eyes can only see etc. There is no reason to emphasize that fact in the karika.

The functions of the five organs of action are: tongue for speech, hands and arms for grasping, feet and legs for locomotion, anus etc. for excretion and organs of procreation for sexual enjoyment.