Shloka 37
Bhṛgu–Bharadvāja-saṃvāda: Vānaprastha-parivrājaka-ācāra, Abhaya-dharma, and Lokānāṃ Vibhāga (Śānti-parva 185)
तथा खरो मृदू रूक्षो लघुर्गुरुतरोडपि च | एवं द्वादशधा स्पर्शों वायव्यो गुण उच्यते
tathā kharo mṛdu rūkṣo laghur gurutaro 'pi ca | evaṃ dvādaśadhā sparśo vāyavyo guṇa ucyate ||
ତଥା ଖର ଓ ମୃଦୁ, ରୂକ୍ଷ, ଲଘୁ, ଗୁରୁ ଓ ଅତିଗୁରୁ; ଏବଂ ଉଷ୍ଣ-ଶୀତ, ସୁଖ-ଦୁଃଖ, ସ୍ନିଗ୍ଧ-ବିଶଦ—ଏସବୁ ମିଶି ବାୟୁ-ତତ୍ତ୍ୱ ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧରେ ସ୍ପର୍ଶକୁ ଦ୍ୱାଦଶ ପ୍ରକାର କୁହାଯାଏ। ଏହିପରି ବାୟୁସମ୍ବନ୍ଧୀୟ ସ୍ପର୍ଶଗୁଣର ବାରୋଟି ଭେଦ ଘୋଷିତ ହୁଏ।
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse classifies tactile experience (sparśa) as a set of distinct qualities and states that, in this teaching context, these are specifically attributed to the air principle (vāyavya guṇa). It presents a systematic, analytical way of understanding sensation by enumerating its modes.
In the didactic discourse of Śānti Parva, Bharadvāja is explaining a philosophical taxonomy of qualities. Here he continues an enumeration, stating that touch connected with Vāyu is described as twelvefold, listing representative tactile opposites such as rough/soft, light/heavy, and related experiential pairs.