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
सा तमागच्छन्तं दृष्ट्वा अन्यं पुरुषमिव शङ्कमाना स्वपृष्ठरक्षणपरायणा सम्मुखीभूय तं प्रत्युद्ययौ।
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.