Shloka 3.1.6
तापसाश्रममण्डलदर्शनम् (Entering Dandaka and Meeting the Sages)
बलिहोमार्चितं पुण्यं ब्रह्मघोषनिनादितम्।पुष्पैश्चान्यैः परिक्षिप्तं पद्मिन्या च सपद्मया।।।।फलमूलाशनैर्दान्तैश्चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरैः।सूर्यवैश्वानराभैश्च पुराणैर्मुनिभिर्वुतम्।।।।
evam uktvā phalair mūlaiḥ puṣpair vanyaiś ca rāghavam |
anyaiś ca vividhāhāraiḥ sa-lakṣmaṇam apūjayan ||
Having spoken thus, they reverently honored Rāghava—together with Lakṣmaṇa—with fruits, roots, wild flowers, and many kinds of forest-gathered foods.
The hermitages where various sacrificial offerings were made reverberated with Vedic chantings. Flowers were scattered all over. There was a lotus-pond with lotuses. There were aged, self-restrained sages glowing like the Sun or the fire, living on fruits and roots, clothed in bark and dark deer-skin.
Atithi-dharma (hospitality): even with minimal resources, the sages honor guests with sincerity, showing that dharma depends on intent and reverence rather than wealth.
After requesting protection, the sages perform respectful reception of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa by offering simple forest foods.
The sages’ generosity and reverence (satkāra), and Rāma’s worthiness as a dharmic guest-king are implicitly affirmed.