Shloka 11
Bhṛgu–Bharadvāja-saṃvāda: Vānaprastha-parivrājaka-ācāra, Abhaya-dharma, and Lokānāṃ Vibhāga (Śānti-parva 185)
ऊष्मतो म्लायते पर्ण त्वक् फल॑ पुष्पमेव च । म्लायते शीर्यते चापि स्पर्शस्तेनात्र विद्यते
Ūṣmato mlāyate parṇa tvak phalaṁ puṣpam eva ca | mlāyate śīryate cāpi sparśas tenātra vidyate ||
Bharadvāja disse: “Por causa do calor que há no interior da árvore, suas folhas, casca, frutos e flores murcham; vergam e então caem. Disso também se estabelece que a árvore possui o sentido do tato.”
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse argues by observable signs (withering and shedding due to internal heat) that a tree is capable of tactile sensation (sparśa). It supports an ethical-philosophical view that living beings may possess subtle forms of sensation, encouraging careful conduct toward them.
In a Shānti Parva discussion framed as instruction, Bharadvāja presents a reasoned example from nature: heat affects a tree’s parts, causing withering and falling, and he uses this as evidence to establish the presence of touch in trees.