Shloka 2.54.17
भरद्वाजाश्रमप्राप्तिः — Arrival at Bharadvāja’s Hermitage and Counsel toward Citrakūṭa
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राजपुत्रस्य धीमतः।उपानयत धर्मात्मा गामर्घ्यमुदकं ततः।।।।
pitrā niyuktā bhagavan pravekṣyāmas tapovanam |
dharmam eva cariṣyāma statra mūlaphalāśanāḥ ||
“O venerable one, commanded by my father, we shall enter this forest-grove of ascetic life. There, living on roots and fruits, we will practice dharma alone.”
Sage Bharadwaja heard the words of sagacious Rama and offered a bull, water (for washing feet) and arghya (offering to a guest).
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.