śrī-śaunakaḥ uvāca - Śrī Śaunaka said; atha - now; imam - this; artham - matter; pṛcchāmaḥ - we are inquiring about; bhavantam - from you; bahu-vit-tamam - the possessor of the broadest knowledge; samasta - of all; tantra - the scriptures prescribing practical methods of worship; rāddha-ante - in the definitive conclusions; bhavān - you; bhagavata - O great devotee of the Supreme Lord; tattva-vit - the knower of the essential facts.

Śrī Śaunaka said: O Sūta, you are the best of learned men and a great devotee of the Supreme Lord. Therefore we now inquire from you about the definitive conclusion of all tantra scriptures.