Shloka 22
Adhyaya 78 — Hymn to Surya and the Distribution of Solar Splendour; Genealogy of Vaivasvata and Chaya’s Line
सा च दृष्ट्वा तमायान्तं परपुंसो विशङ्कया ।
जगाम संमुखं तस्य पृष्ठरक्षणतत्परा ॥
sā ca dṛṣṭvā tamāyāntaṃ parapuṃso viśaṅkayā / jagāma saṃmukhaṃ tasya pṛṣṭharakṣaṇatatparā
Und sie, als sie ihn herankommen sah und ihn für einen anderen Mann hielt, ging ihm entgegen, entschlossen, wachsam zu bleiben und ihren Rücken zu schützen.
FAQs
The verse underscores vigilance and discernment in intimate relations: recognition and trust are not blind; propriety and self-protection are valued, especially in situations of uncertainty.
Vaṃśa/vaṃśānucarita (dynastic genealogy and the deeds of the line): it sets up the births that define the Solar lineage and the Vaivasvata manvantara.
The ‘approaching other man’ motif can be read as the play of appearance (chāyā/semblance) versus essence (svarūpa): discernment pierces nāma-rūpa to reach truth.