Shloka 22
Adhyaya 78 — Dhumralochana
सा च दृष्ट्वा तमायान्तं परपुंसो विशङ्कया ।
जगाम संमुखं तस्य पृष्ठरक्षणतत्परा ॥
sā ca dṛṣṭvā tamāyāntaṃ parapuṃso viśaṅkayā / jagāma saṃmukhaṃ tasya pṛṣṭharakṣaṇatatparā
Dia, melihat baginda menghampiri dan menyangka baginda lelaki lain, lalu pergi menghadapinya—dengan niat berjaga-jaga, melindungi bahagian belakangnya.
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.