iti - thus; tān - them (the sons of Prajāpati Dakṣa known as the Savalāśvas); api - also; rājendra - O King Parīkṣit; prajā-sarga-dhiyaḥ - who were under the impression that begetting children was the most important duty; muniḥ - the great sage; upetya - approaching; nāradaḥ - Nārada; prāha - said; vācaḥ - words; kūṭāni - enigmatic; pūrva-vat - as he had done previously.

O King Parīkṣit, Nārada Muni approached these sons of Prajāpati Dakṣa, who were engaged in tapasya to beget children, and spoke enigmatic words to them just as he had spoken to their elder brothers.