Bhṛgu–Bharadvāja-saṃvāda: Vānaprastha-parivrājaka-ācāra, Abhaya-dharma, and Lokānāṃ Vibhāga (Śānti-parva 185)
एवं षोडशविस्तारो ज्योतीरूपगुण: स्मृत: । हस्व दीर्घ
evaṁ ṣoḍaśa-vistāro jyotī-rūpa-guṇaḥ smṛtaḥ | hrasva-dīrghaḥ sthūlaś caukoraś ca sarvataḥ golaḥ śvetaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ raktaḥ pītaś cākāśa-sadṛśo nīlaḥ kaṭhinaḥ ślakṣṇaḥ alpaḥ picchilaḥ mṛduḥ dāruṇaś ceti | evaṁ jyotirmaya-rūpa-nāmakaḥ guṇaḥ ṣoḍaśa-bhedaiḥ vistāraṁ prāptaḥ ||
ଭରଦ୍ୱାଜ କହିଲେ—“ଏହିପରି ‘ଜ୍ୟୋତିରୂପ’ ନାମକ ଗୁଣ ଷୋଡଶ ଭେଦରେ ବିସ୍ତାର ପାଇଛି—ହ୍ରସ୍ୱ, ଦୀର୍ଘ, ସ୍ଥୂଳ, ଚତୁରସ୍ର, ସବୁଦିଗରୁ ଗୋଳ; ଶ୍ୱେତ, କୃଷ୍ଣ, ରକ୍ତ, ପୀତ ଓ ଆକାଶସଦୃଶ ନୀଳ; କଠିନ, ଶ୍ଲକ୍ଷ୍ଣ; ଅଲ୍ପ, ପିଚ୍ଛିଳ, ମୃଦୁ ଓ ଦାରୁଣ।”
भरद्वाज उवाच
The passage teaches a classificatory view of reality: a single attribute—here called the ‘luminous form’ quality—can be analyzed into multiple distinct modes (sixteen), covering dimensions of shape, color, and tactile/physical properties. It models careful discrimination (viveka) as a tool for philosophical understanding.
In Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, the sage Bharadvāja is explaining a doctrinal enumeration. He lists sixteen differentiations of a quality associated with ‘radiant form,’ presenting a systematic taxonomy rather than a story event.