अहं हि सर्वदा स्तौमि नारदं देवदर्शनम् । महेंद्रगदितेनैव स्तोत्रेण शृणु तन्नृप
ahaṃ hi sarvadā staumi nāradaṃ devadarśanam | maheṃdragaditenaiva stotreṇa śṛṇu tannṛpa
En vérité, je loue toujours Nārada, le voyant des dieux. Ô roi, écoute cet hymne, prononcé par Mahendra lui-même.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced); internal quotation introduces Indra’s hymn
Listener: A king (nṛpa)
Scene: A royal listener sits respectfully as a narrator announces a hymn spoken by Mahendra; Nārada is envisioned as radiant devarṣi with vīṇā, embodying ‘devadarśana’.
Saintly praise (stuti) preserves and transmits sacred qualities; hearing hymns is itself a dharmic act.
No site is named; the verse introduces a stotra tradition within the narrative.
Śravaṇa (devotional listening) of a stotra is implied: “śṛṇu”—hear the hymn.