इत्युक्तास्ते तदा सर्वे विप्रा ऊचुर्महेश्वरम्
ityuktāste tadā sarve viprā ūcurmaheśvaram
Ainsi interpellés, alors tous ces brāhmanes répondirent à Maheśvara.
Narrator (transition to the brāhmaṇas’ response)
Listener: Pilgrimage audience
Scene: A group of brāhmaṇas, attentive and reverent, preparing to reply to Maheśvara; a pause before their speech.
Scriptural dharma is preserved through dialogue—teachers speak, and qualified listeners respond with discernment.
The ongoing context is Prabhāsa Kṣetra (Uṇṇata and Nagnahara), though this verse is a narrative transition.
None; it introduces the brāhmaṇas’ reply.