Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 91: Bharadvāja’s Hospitality to Bharata, His Army and Family
Text 2.91.4

सेनायास्तु तवैतस्याः कर्तुमिच्छामि भोजनम्।
मम प्रीतिर्यथारूपा त्वमर्हो मनुजाधिप॥

senāyās tu tavaitasyāḥ kartum icchāmi bhojanam
mama prītir yathā-rūpā tvam arho manujādhipa

senāyāḥ = army; tu = still; tava = of Yours; etasyāḥ = this; kartum icchāmi = I wish to; bhojanam = feed; mama prītiḥ yathā-rūpā = make me happy; tvam = You; arhaḥ = should; manuja-adhipa = O prince.

“Still, I wish to feed this army of Yours. O prince, You should make me happy.

The sage wanted to feed them rice, [not just fruits and roots]. The sage wanted Bharata to permit [him to do so].

In the next verse he says the same thing indirectly.