Sanjna, radiant consort of the Sun, struggled to endure the fierce brilliance of her husband, Vivasvat. Day by day, the intensity of his light became more than she could bear, and her heart was filled with restless pondering. She asked herself, “What shall I do? Where can I go to find relief? How can I avoid angering my husband?” Her mind turned over many possibilities. At last, the gentle daughter of Tvashtar, lord of all creatures, decided that seeking refuge with her father would be best. Resolving to go to her parental home, the illustrious Sanjna created from her own being a shadow-form, called Chaya—a likeness dear to the Sun. Sanjna spoke to this shadow: “Just as I have conducted myself in the house of Bhanu, so must you behave with his children, and with the Sun himself. If you are questioned, do not reveal my departure; always say only this: ‘I am Sanjna by name.’” Chaya replied with humility, “O goddess, by your command and by grasping my hair, I will obey. I will always tell the truth if compelled by a curse, but otherwise follow your instructions.” Thus reassured, Sanjna departed for her father’s house. There, she found Tvashtar purified by his austerities, and she was received with great honor and respect by Vishvakarman, the divine architect. For a time, she stayed blameless in her father’s abode. But soon, her father noticed that she lingered only briefly. With affection and reverence, he addressed his beautiful daughter: “O child, even if I see you for many days, to me those days seem but half a moment; yet, righteousness is diminished. For women, a long stay among relatives brings no honor—relatives desire that a woman remain in her husband’s house. You, wedded to the lord of the three worlds, the Sun, should not dwell long here. Go, my daughter, to your husband’s house. You have honored me, and I am pleased. But return again to see me, O auspicious one.” Sanjna, thus addressed, replied, “So be it.” After honoring her father, she journeyed to the northern Kurus. There, wishing to avoid the Sun’s heat and fearing his radiance, she assumed the form of a mare and performed severe austerities. Meanwhile, the Sun, believing Chaya to be his wife Sanjna, begot two sons and a beautiful daughter by her. Chaya, however, was exceedingly affectionate only toward her own children, showing less love for Sanjna’s children—Manu, Yama, and their sister. Day by day, in her caresses and pleasures, she made distinctions. Patient Manu endured this, but Yama could not tolerate it. One day, angered, Yama raised his foot to strike Chaya. Yet, she was forbearing and did not let his foot fall upon her body. Nevertheless, her lips trembling and her hands unsteady with anger, Chaya cursed Yama: “Because you, disregarding propriety, threaten me—your father’s wife—with your foot, today your foot shall fall to the earth.” Hearing this curse from his mother, Yama was filled with fear. He approached his father, the Sun, bowed low, and spoke: “Father, this is a great wonder—unheard of—that a mother, abandoning affection, should curse her own son. As Manu has declared, and so is my own view: even if sons are at fault, a mother herself does not become faulty.” Hearing Yama’s words, the blessed Sun, dispeller of darkness, summoned Chaya and asked her where she had gone. Chaya replied, “I am Sanjna, daughter of Tvashtar, wife of Vivasvat; these children of yours were born from me.” But when Vivasvat questioned her further, she did not reveal the truth. Angered, the radiant Sun prepared to curse her. Fearing his wrath, Chaya finally confessed everything as it had happened. Understanding the situation, the Sun went to the house of Tvashtar. There, honored with supreme devotion by Tvashtar, the Sun asked about Sanjna. Vishvakarman, the great creator, told him, “She has come here to my house, sent by you.” Absorbed in meditation, the Sun perceived Sanjna performing austerities in the distant land of the northern Kurus, having taken the form of a mare. He understood her intention: she longed for her husband to possess a gentle form and auspicious appearance. The Sun then said to Vishvakarman, “Let my brilliance be diminished today.” Vishvakarman, praised by the gods, worked for a year and finally reduced the Sun’s overwhelming radiance. Now, Markandeya continued: “Hear from me in detail the origin of Sāvarṇi, the eighth Manu, son of the Sun. By the power of the great Māyā, Sāvarṇi, the illustrious son of the Sun, became the lord of a Manvantara. “In the preceding Svārociṣa Manvantara, there was a king named Suratha, born of the Citrā lineage, who ruled the entire earth. He cared for his subjects as if they were his own children. Yet, enemies arose—kings who destroyed his lineage and power. A battle took place between him, mighty in authority, and those destroyers of his line. Though they were fewer, King Suratha was defeated by them in that battle.