śrī-śuka uvāca
nimir ikṣvāku-tanayo
vasiṣṭham avṛtartvijam
ārabhya satraṁ so 'py āha
śakreṇa prāg vṛto 'smi bhoḥ
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca - Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; nimiḥ - King Nimi; ikṣvāku-tanayaḥ - the son of Mahārāja Ikṣvāku; vasiṣṭham - the great sage Vasiṣṭha; avṛta - appointed; ṛtvijam - the chief priest of the sacrifice; ārabhya - beginning; satram - the sacrifice; saḥ - he, Vasiṣṭha; api - also; āha - said; śakreṇa - by Lord Indra; prāk - before; vṛtaḥ asmi - I was appointed; bhoḥ - O Mahārāja Nimi.