Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
पुरा कृतयुगे तात ऋषिरासीन्महायशा:
purā kṛtayuge tāta ṛṣir āsīn mahāyaśāḥ
Vāsudeva sprach: „Vor langer Zeit, im Kṛta-Yuga, mein Lieber, lebte ein großer ṛṣi von weithin strahlendem Ruhm.“
वासुदेव उवाच
The verse frames a dharma-teaching through an ancient exemplum: by locating the lesson in the Kṛta Yuga and introducing a renowned sage, it signals that the forthcoming instruction is grounded in timeless, exemplary conduct.
Vāsudeva begins a retrospective account, addressing someone affectionately (“tāta”) and introducing a celebrated sage who lived in the Kṛta Yuga, setting up a story meant to illustrate ethical or dharmic principles.