Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 54, Shloka 16
भरद्वाजाश्रमप्राप्तिः
Arrival at Bharadvāja’s Hermitage and Counsel toward Citrakūṭa
पित्रा नियुक्ता भगवन् प्रवेक्ष्यामस्तपोवनम्।धर्ममेव चरिष्याम स्तत्र मूलफलाशनाः।।।।
pitrā niyuktā bhagavan pravekṣyāmas tapovanam |
dharmam eva cariṣyāma statra mūlaphalāśanāḥ ||
„O ehrwürdiger Bhagavān, auf Geheiß meines Vaters werden wir in diesen Wald der Askese eintreten. Dort, von Wurzeln und Früchten lebend, werden wir allein dem Dharma folgen.“
Sage Bharadwaja heard the words of sagacious Rama and offered a bull, water (for washing feet) and arghya (offering to a guest).
FAQs
Obedience aligned with righteousness: Rama accepts the father’s command and frames exile as a conscious practice of dharma—simple living, self-discipline, and moral steadiness.
Rama tells Bharadvaja that they are entering forest life by paternal command and will live austerely on forest produce.
Duty-bound self-restraint—Rama’s commitment to dharma through austerity and acceptance of hardship.