śrī-nārada uvāca
evaḿ te niminā pṛṣṭā
vasudeva mahattamāḥ
pratipūjyābruvan prītyā
sa-sadasyartvijaḿ nṛpam
sri-naradah uvaca -- Sri Narada said; evam -- thus; te -- they; nimina -- by King Nimi; prishtah -- questioned; vasudeva -- O Vasudeva; mahat-tamah -- those best of saints; pratipujya -- offering him words of respect in return; abruvan -- they spoke; pritya -- affectionately; sa-sadasya -- who was accompanied by the members of the sacrificial assembly; ritvijam -- and by the priests; nripam -- to the King.
Sri Narada said: O Vasudeva, when Maharaja Nimi had thus inquired from the nine Yogendras about devotional service to the Lord, those best of saintly persons sincerely thanked the King for his questions and spoke to him with affection in the presence of the members of the sacrificial assembly and the brahmana priests.
According to Sridhara Svami, not only the King but also the members of the assembly and the priests conducting the sacrifice were all devoted to hearing and chanting the glories of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The sages, beginning with Kavi, will now each speak in turn, answering the questions of the King.
