Shloka 36
Bhṛgu–Bharadvāja-saṃvāda: Vānaprastha-parivrājaka-ācāra, Abhaya-dharma, and Lokānāṃ Vibhāga (Śānti-parva 185)
उष्ण: शीत: सुखो दुःख: स्निग्थो विशद एव च,उष्ण, शीत, सुख, दुःख, स्निग्ध, विशद, खर, मृदु, रूक्ष, हलका, भारी और अधिक भारी--इस प्रकार वायु-सम्बन्धी स्पर्श गुणके बारह भेद कहे जाते हैं
bharadvāja uvāca | uṣṇaḥ śītaḥ sukho duḥkhaḥ snigdho viśada eva ca | kharaḥ mṛduḥ rūkṣaḥ laghuḥ bhārī ati-bhārī ca | iti vāyu-sambandhī sparśa-guṇānāṃ dvādaśa bhedāḥ kathyante ||
Bharadvāja disse: “Calor e frio; conforto e dor; untuosidade e clareza; e também aspereza e maciez; secura; leveza; peso e peso extremo—estes são ensinados como as doze variedades das qualidades táteis associadas ao elemento do vento (Vāyu). Ao discernir tais sensações, aprende-se a ler o corpo e o mundo sem confusão e a cultivar firmeza em meio ao prazer e ao sofrimento.”
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse classifies twelve touch-based qualities (sparśa-guṇas) attributed to the air element—hot/cold, pleasant/painful, unctuous/clear, rough/soft, dry, light, heavy, and very heavy—encouraging discernment of sensory experience so one can remain steady and not be ruled by shifting bodily sensations.
In Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Bharadvāja is explaining a doctrinal taxonomy of sense qualities. He enumerates the varieties of tactile experience as part of a broader teaching on elements, perception, and disciplined understanding.