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 ||
भृगु म्हणाले—मुने! वृक्ष जरी घन व ठोस भासले, तरी त्यांत आकाश (अंतर्गत अवकाश) आहे—यात संशय नाही. त्या अवकाशामुळेच त्यांत नित्य फुले-फळे इत्यादींची उत्पत्ती संभवते.
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.