Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 102: Rāma Performs Śrāddha for King Daśaratha
Text 2.102.21
सीता पुरस्ताद्व्रजतु त्वमेनामभितो व्रज।
अहं पश्चाद्गमिष्यामि गतिर्ह्येषा सुदारुणा॥
sītā purastād vrajatu tvam enām abhito vraja
ahaṁ paścād gamiṣyāmi gatir hy eṣā sudāruṇā
sītā = let Sītā; purastāt = in front; vrajatu = go; tvam = You; enām = her; abhitaḥ = behind; vraja = go; aham = I; paścāt = behind [You]; gamiṣyāmi = will go; gatiḥ hi eṣā sudāruṇā = this is how people in distress should walk in this very trying situation.
Let Sītā go in front. You go behind her. I will go behind [You]. This is how people in distress should walk in this very trying situation.
Gatir hy eṣā sudāruṇā indicates that [in this very trying situation, men] should follow women and children when they go to bathe [and offer water to departed souls] as stated in Bhāradvāja Śrauta-sūtra 4.