ye - those; marīci-ādayaḥ - great sages headed by Marīci; viprāḥ - brāhmaṇas; yaḥ - who; tu - indeed; svāyambhuvaḥ manuḥ - and Svāyambhuva Manu; te - they; vai - indeed; brahmaṇaḥ - of Lord Brahmā; ādeśāt - by the order; katham - how; etat - this universe; abhāvayan - evolved.

Vidura inquired: How did the Prajāpatis [such progenitors of living entities as Marīci and Svāyambhuva Manu] create according to the instruction of Brahmā, and how did they evolve this manifested universe?