Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 119, Shloka 6
अनसूयाप्रीतिदानम्
Anasūyā’s Blessing and the Forest Path
ऋषीणामग्निहोत्रेषु हुतेषु विधिपूर्वकम्।कपोताङ्गारुणो धूमो दृश्यते पवनोद्धतः।।।।
ṛṣīṇām agnihotreṣu huteṣu vidhipūrvakam |
kapotāṅgāruṇo dhūmo dṛśyate pavanoddhataḥ ||
When the sages have duly offered oblations in their agnihotra rites, smoke—tawny like a pigeon’s body—can be seen, lifted and carried by the wind.
O Rama, this is the one path in the forest used by the ascetics to gather fruits. You can safely cross the otherwise impassable forest through this path.
FAQs
Dharma is faithful performance of prescribed duties (yajña/ritual discipline) with correctness and sincerity—an outer form supporting inner truthfulness (satya).
A hermitage scene is described: sages complete agnihotra and the wind carries the visible smoke.
Steadiness in duty (niyama) and reverence for sacred practice, embodied by the sages’ orderly ritual life.