śrī-śukaḥ uvāca - Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti - thus; uktvā - speaking; yajñiye - appropriate for the sacrifice; kāle - at the time; vavre - chose; yuktān - suitable; saḥ - he; ṛtvijaḥ - sacrificial priests; kṛṣṇa - by Lord Kṛṣṇa; anumoditaḥ - sanctioned; pārthaḥ - the son of Pṛthā (Yudhiṣṭhira); brāhmaṇān - brāhmaṇas; brahma - of the Vedas; vādinaḥ - expert authorities.

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Having said this, King Yudhiṣṭhira waited until the proper time for the sacrifice was at hand. Then with Lord Kṛṣṇa’s permission he selected suitable priests, all expert authorities on the Vedas, to execute the sacrifice.