maitreyaḥ uvāca - the great saint Maitreya said; pṛthuḥ - King Pṛthu; prajānām - of the citizens; karuṇam - pitiable condition; niśamya - hearing; paridevitam - lamentation; dīrgham - for a long time; dadhyau - contemplated; kuru-śreṣṭha - O Vidura; nimittam - the cause; saḥ - he; anvapadyata - found out.

After hearing this lamentation and seeing the pitiable condition of the citizens, King Pṛthu contemplated this matter for a long time to see if he could find out the underlying causes.