Shloka 14
Bhṛgu–Bharadvāja-saṃvāda: Vānaprastha-parivrājaka-ācāra, Abhaya-dharma, and Lokānāṃ Vibhāga (Śānti-parva 185)
पुण्यापुण्यैस्तथा गन्धैर्धूपैश्व विविधैरपि । अरोगाः: पुष्पिता: सन्ति तस्माज्जिप्रन्ति पादपा:
puṇyāpuṇyais tathā gandhair dhūpaiś ca vividhair api | arogāḥ puṣpitāḥ santi tasmāj jighranti pādapāḥ ||
Bharadvāja berkata: “Dengan bau-bauan yang dianggap suci dan tidak suci, serta dengan pelbagai jenis asap dupa, pohon menjadi bebas penyakit lalu berbunga dan berbuah. Daripada itu terbuktilah bahawa pohon juga memiliki daya menghidu.”
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.