Shloka 11
Bhṛgu–Bharadvāja-saṃvāda: Vānaprastha-parivrājaka-ācāra, Abhaya-dharma, and Lokānāṃ Vibhāga (Śānti-parva 185)
ऊष्मतो म्लायते पर्ण त्वक् फल॑ पुष्पमेव च । म्लायते शीर्यते चापि स्पर्शस्तेनात्र विद्यते,वृक्षोंके भीतर जो ऊष्मा या गर्मी है, उसीसे उनके पत्ते, छाल, फल फूल, कुम्हलाते हैं, मुरझाकर झड़ जाते हैं; इससे उनमें स्पर्शका होना भी सिद्ध होता है
Ūṣmato mlāyate parṇa tvak phalaṁ puṣpam eva ca | mlāyate śīryate cāpi sparśas tenātra vidyate ||
Bharadvāja said: “Because of the heat within the tree, its leaves, bark, fruits, and flowers wither; they droop and then fall away. From this it is also established that the tree possesses the sense of touch.”
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse argues by observable signs (withering and shedding due to internal heat) that a tree is capable of tactile sensation (sparśa). It supports an ethical-philosophical view that living beings may possess subtle forms of sensation, encouraging careful conduct toward them.
In a Shānti Parva discussion framed as instruction, Bharadvāja presents a reasoned example from nature: heat affects a tree’s parts, causing withering and falling, and he uses this as evidence to establish the presence of touch in trees.