Shloka 12
Bhṛgu–Bharadvāja-saṃvāda: Vānaprastha-parivrājaka-ācāra, Abhaya-dharma, and Lokānāṃ Vibhāga (Śānti-parva 185)
वाय्वग्न्यशनिनिर्घोषै: फल पुष्पं विशीर्यते । श्रोत्रेण गृहते शब्दस्तस्माच्छुण्वन्ति पादपा:
vāyv-agny-aśani-nirghoṣaiḥ phala-puṣpaṃ viśīryate | śrotreṇa gṛhyate śabdas tasmāc chṛṇvanti pādapāḥ ||
Bharadvāja dit : «Sous le fracas du vent, du feu et de la foudre, les fruits et les fleurs des arbres sont ébranlés et tombent. Or le son est saisi par l’organe de l’ouïe ; ainsi est-il établi que les arbres, eux aussi, peuvent entendre.»
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse argues from observable effect (trees shedding fruits/flowers when exposed to loud natural sounds) to a philosophical conclusion: since sound is known through the faculty of hearing, trees must possess some capacity to apprehend sound—an assertion of non-human sensory capability.
Bharadvāja presents a reasoning example within a didactic discussion: he cites the reaction of trees to the loud roar of wind, fire, and thunder as evidence supporting the claim that trees can ‘hear’ (i.e., respond to sound through an appropriate faculty).