A network of routers configure resource nodes connected to the network in accordance with a configuration model including configuration objects that imply resources. A router device among the network of router devices receives, from forwarding paths in the network relative to the router device, originated at the resource nodes and that indicate resources supported by the resource nodes. The router device creates mappings of the resources as advertised to the forwarding paths. The router device receives from the network an Intent request to create a configuration object among the configuration objects, and determines whether the configuration object matches a resource in the mappings. If the configuration object matches a resource in the mappings, the router device generates a new Intent request that identifies the resource, specifically, and forwards the new Intent request along the forwarding path mapped to the resource.