Shloka 27
गन्ध: स्पर्शो रसो रूप॑ शब्दश्षात्र गुणा: स्मृता: । तस्य गन्धस्य वक्ष्यामि विस्तराभिहितान् गुणात्
gandhaḥ sparśo raso rūpaṁ śabdaś cātra guṇāḥ smṛtāḥ | tasya gandhasya vakṣyāmi vistarābhihitān guṇān ||
Bharadvāja disse: “Aroma, tato, sabor, forma e som são lembrados como qualidades (apreendidas pelos sentidos). Dentre elas, descreverei agora em detalhe as propriedades ensinadas acerca do aroma.”
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse classifies the five sensory qualities—smell, touch, taste, form, and sound—and announces a focused, detailed exposition on smell (gandha) as a representative topic within a broader analysis of perception and qualities.
In a calm, instructional setting of the Śānti Parva, the sage Bharadvāja is speaking and transitions from listing sensory qualities to beginning a more detailed doctrinal explanation, starting specifically with the topic of scent.