Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 33
चित्रकूटमार्गोपदेशः
Instructions for the Chitrakuta Route and the Yamuna Crossing
क्रोशमात्रं ततो गत्वा भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।बहून्मेध्यान्मृगान्हत्वा चेरतुर्यमुनावने।।।।
krośamātraṁ tato gatvā bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau | bahūn medhyān mṛgān hatvā ceratur yamunāvane ||
ततः क्रोशमात्रं गत्वा रामलक्ष्मणौ भ्रातरौ बहून् मेध्यान् मृगान् हत्वा यमुनावने चेरतुः।
After walking a krosa into the forest on the bank of Yamuna, the two brothers killed many deer suitable for sacrifice and ate them.
FAQs
Dharma as regulated living: even necessities like food are framed within purity norms (medhya), reflecting disciplined conduct in exile.
Rama and Lakshmana travel further along the Yamunā-side forest and procure food by hunting deer considered ritually acceptable.
Austerity and adaptability—maintaining order and restraint while living the forest life.