Shloka 2.119.21
अनसूयाप्रीतिदानम् — Anasūyā’s Blessing and the Forest Path
एष पन्था महर्षीणां फलान्याहरतां वने।अनेन तु वनं दुर्गं गन्तुं राघव ते क्षमम्।।।।
ṛṣīṇām agnihotreṣu huteṣu vidhipūrvakam |
kapotāṅgāruṇo dhūmo dṛśyate pavanoddhataḥ ||
When the sages have duly offered oblations in the agnihotra rite, smoke—tawny like a pigeon’s body—can be seen, lifted up and borne along 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.
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.