Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 55: Rāma Leaves Bharadvāja’s Āśrama and Crosses the Yamunā
Text 2.55.28

यद्यत्फलं प्रार्थयते पुष्प वा जनकात्मजा।
तत्तत्प्रदद्या वैदेह्या यत्रास्या रमते मनः॥

yad yat phalaṁ prārthayate puṣpaṁ vā janakātmajā
tat tat pradadyā vaidehyā yatrāsyā ramate manaḥ

yat yat = whatever; phalam = fruit; prārthayate = asks for; puṣpam = flower; = or; janaka-ātmajā = Janaka’s daughter; tat tat pradadyāḥ = give; vaidehyāḥ = Vaidehī’s; yatra = so that; asyāḥ1 ramate = is happy; manaḥ = mind.

Give whatever fruit or flower Janaka’s daughter asks for so that Vaidehī’s mind is happy.

This is why Rāmacandra wanted Lakṣmaṇa to go in front [of Sītā-devī].

1 Technical note: asyāḥ vaidehyāḥ.