Shloka 27
Bhṛgu–Bharadvāja-saṃvāda: Vānaprastha-parivrājaka-ācāra, Abhaya-dharma, and Lokānāṃ Vibhāga (Śānti-parva 185)
गन्ध: स्पर्शो रसो रूप॑ शब्दश्षात्र गुणा: स्मृता: । तस्य गन्धस्य वक्ष्यामि विस्तराभिहितान् गुणात्
gandhaḥ sparśo raso rūpaṁ śabdaś cātra guṇāḥ smṛtāḥ | tasya gandhasya vakṣyāmi vistarābhihitān guṇān ||
Bharadvāja berkata: “Aroma, sentuhan, rasa, rupa, dan bunyi diingat sebagai sifat-sifat (yang ditangkap indra). Di antaranya, kini akan kuuraikan dengan rinci sifat-sifat yang diajarkan mengenai aroma.”
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse classifies the five sensory qualities—smell, touch, taste, form, and sound—and announces a focused, detailed exposition on smell (gandha) as a representative topic within a broader analysis of perception and qualities.
In a calm, instructional setting of the Śānti Parva, the sage Bharadvāja is speaking and transitions from listing sensory qualities to beginning a more detailed doctrinal explanation, starting specifically with the topic of scent.