maitreya uvÄca
ity udÄhá¹›tam Äkarṇya
bhagavÄn nÄradas tadÄ
prÄ«taḥ pratyÄha taá¹ bÄlaá¹
sad-vÄkyam anukampayÄ
maitreyaḥ uvÄca - the sage Maitreya continued; iti - thus; udÄhá¹›tam - being spoken; Äkarṇya - hearing; bhagavÄn nÄradaḥ - the great personality NÄrada; tadÄ - thereupon; prÄ«taḥ - being pleased; pratyÄha - replied; tam - him; bÄlam - the boy; sat-vÄkyam - good advice; anukampayÄ - being compassionate.
Since the great sage NÄrada is the foremost spiritual master, naturally his only activity is to bestow the greatest benefit upon whomever he meets. Dhruva MahÄrÄja, however, was a child, and so his demand was also that of a playful child. Still, the great sage became compassionate toward him, and for his welfare he spoke the following verses.