Shloka 10
Bhṛgu–Bharadvāja-saṃvāda: Vānaprastha-parivrājaka-ācāra, Abhaya-dharma, and Lokānāṃ Vibhāga (Śānti-parva 185)
भूगुरुवाच घनानामपि वृक्षाणामाकाशो<5स्ति न संशय: । तेषां पुष्पफलव्यक्तिर्नित्यं समुपपद्यते
Bhṛgur uvāca: ghanānām api vṛkṣāṇām ākāśo 'sti na saṁśayaḥ | teṣāṁ puṣpaphalavyaktir nityaṁ samupapadyate ||
Bhṛgu dit : «Ô muni ! Bien que les arbres paraissent denses et solides, il y a en eux de l’espace, sans aucun doute. C’est grâce à cet espace intérieur que devient intelligible la manifestation continuelle de leurs fleurs et de leurs fruits.»
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhṛgu uses a natural analogy to argue that what seems solid still contains space; acknowledging subtle inner ‘space’ helps explain ongoing transformation and growth (like the continual arising of flowers and fruits).
In a didactic exchange among sages in the Śānti Parva, Bhṛgu responds with an illustrative example from nature, grounding a philosophical point through observable features of trees.