Shloka 12
Bhṛgu–Bharadvāja-saṃvāda: Vānaprastha-parivrājaka-ācāra, Abhaya-dharma, and Lokānāṃ Vibhāga (Śānti-parva 185)
वाय्वग्न्यशनिनिर्घोषै: फल पुष्पं विशीर्यते । श्रोत्रेण गृहते शब्दस्तस्माच्छुण्वन्ति पादपा:,यह भी देखा जाता है कि वायु, अग्नि और बिजलीकी कड़क आदि भीषण शब्द होनेपर वृक्षोंक फल-फ़ूल झड़कर गिर जाते हैं। शब्दका ग्रहण तो श्रवणेन्द्रियसे ही होता है; इससे यह सिद्ध हुआ कि वृक्ष भी सुनते हैं
vāyv-agny-aśani-nirghoṣaiḥ phala-puṣpaṃ viśīryate | śrotreṇa gṛhyate śabdas tasmāc chṛṇvanti pādapāḥ ||
بھاردواج نے کہا—ہوا، آگ اور بجلی کی گرج کے ہولناک شور سے درختوں کے پھل اور پھول جھڑ کر گر پڑتے ہیں۔ آواز کا ادراک تو قوتِ سماعت سے ہوتا ہے؛ لہٰذا یہ ثابت ہوا کہ درخت بھی سنتے ہیں۔
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse argues from observable effect (trees shedding fruits/flowers when exposed to loud natural sounds) to a philosophical conclusion: since sound is known through the faculty of hearing, trees must possess some capacity to apprehend sound—an assertion of non-human sensory capability.
Bharadvāja presents a reasoning example within a didactic discussion: he cites the reaction of trees to the loud roar of wind, fire, and thunder as evidence supporting the claim that trees can ‘hear’ (i.e., respond to sound through an appropriate faculty).