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 ||
Bhṛgu disse: “Ó muni! Ainda que as árvores pareçam densas e sólidas, há nelas espaço, sem dúvida. Por causa desse espaço interior, torna-se inteligível a manifestação contínua de suas flores e frutos.”
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.