iti - thus; aham - I; munibhiḥ - by the sages; pṛṣṭaḥ - questioned; tattva - the truth about the goal of yoga; jijñāsubhiḥ - by those desiring to know; tadā - at that time; yat - that which; avocam - spoke; aham - I; tebhyaḥ - unto them; tat - that; uddhava - My dear Uddhava; nibodha - please learn; me - from Me.

My dear Uddhava, the sages, being eager to understand the ultimate truth of the yoga system, thus inquired from Me. Now please hear as I explain that which I spoke unto the sages.