Shloka 14
Bhṛgu–Bharadvāja-saṃvāda: Vānaprastha-parivrājaka-ācāra, Abhaya-dharma, and Lokānāṃ Vibhāga (Śānti-parva 185)
पुण्यापुण्यैस्तथा गन्धैर्धूपैश्व विविधैरपि । अरोगाः: पुष्पिता: सन्ति तस्माज्जिप्रन्ति पादपा:,पवित्र और अपवित्र गन्धसे तथा नाना प्रकारके धूपोंकी गन्धसे वृक्ष नीरोग होकर फूलने-फलने लग जाते हैं; इससे प्रमाणित होता है कि वृक्ष भी सूँघते हैं
puṇyāpuṇyais tathā gandhair dhūpaiś ca vividhair api | arogāḥ puṣpitāḥ santi tasmāj jighranti pādapāḥ ||
Bharadvāja said: “By fragrances that are deemed pure and impure, and by many kinds of incense-smoke as well, trees become free from disease and come into blossom and fruit. From this it is established that trees, too, possess the faculty of smelling.”
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse argues by observable effect (health and blossoming due to fragrances and incense) that trees possess a sensory capacity—specifically smell—thus extending consideration of sentience beyond humans and animals.
In a didactic discussion in Śānti Parva, Bharadvāja presents an inference: since trees respond beneficially to scents and fumigation, it is reasonable to conclude that they can smell.